Hideo Kojima's new film role is not at all what we expected, but it's somehow perfect

1. Entertainment
2. Movies
3. Animated Movies
4. Zootopia

Hideo Kojima's new film role is not at all what we expected, but it's somehow perfect News By Molly Edwards published 2 December 2025

Hideo Kojima is coming to the big screen in Zootopia 2

Comments (0) ()

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Xbox)

Hideo Kojima, who doubles as a legendary game designer and a massive cinephile, has scored a new movie role.

Now, to be totally honest, it's not at all what we expected, but somehow, it fits perfectly. Kojima will next appear on the big screen in the Japanese version of Zootopia 2 with a voice role, per Famitsu. He'll be voicing Paul Moldebrandt, who, as you might have guessed by the name, is a mole employed at the Zootopia Police Department.

"I have plenty of experience with cameo appearances in live-action films and games, but this will be my first time dubbing an animated feature film," Kojima said (via Google's automatic translate). "And it's from Disney, to my surprise!"

You may like

• Metal Gear spiritual successor Physint is still in its concept phase, Hideo Kojima confirms, but it's already got a star-studded cast including Furiosa, Godzilla Minus One, and Train To Busan actors
• Hideo Kojima says Predator: Badlands "represents a new direction for Hollywood entertainment" inspired by "manga, anime, and gaming culture"
• Death Stranding movie aims to capture the "soul" of the games, but will be its own original story – and even Hideo Kojima won't be involved "too much"

Kojima also revealed that co-director Jared Bush reached out to him directly for the role, and Kojima accepted immediately.

"My participation was limited to a small scene, but even at the recording stage, the level of detail was impressive. Thanks to the illustrations, the recording went smoothly. I'm usually on the directing side, so I learned a lot from actually acting. I was reminded of how much attention voice actors pay to basic things like turning pages in the script and adding noise," Kojima added.

Zootopia 2 picks up shortly after the events of the first movie, and this time unlikely buddy cop duo Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde must investigate a new conspiracy involving Ke Huy Quan's reptile Gary De'Snake.

The sequel debuted with a history-making opening weekend, scoring a $556 million total worldwide. While a third movie hasn't been confirmed, an Easter egg hidden in the film seems to confirm another is on the way (and it even hints what a threequel would be about).

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You can catch Zootopia 2 in theaters now, and you can also check out our interviews with the cast and filmmakers on bringing the animal world to life and introducing reptiles to the series.

TOPICS Disney Hideo Kojima Molly EdwardsSocial Links NavigationDeputy Entertainment Editor

I'm the Deputy Entertainment Editor here at GamesRadar+, covering all things film and TV for the site's Total Film and SFX sections. I previously worked on the Disney magazines team at Immediate Media, and also wrote on the CBeebies, MEGA!, and Star Wars Galaxy titles after graduating with a BA in English.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Logout Read more Metal Gear spiritual successor Physint is still in its concept phase, Hideo Kojima confirms, but it's already got a star-studded cast including Furiosa, Godzilla Minus One, and Train To Busan actors    Hideo Kojima says Predator: Badlands "represents a new direction for Hollywood entertainment" inspired by "manga, anime, and gaming culture"    Death Stranding movie aims to capture the "soul" of the games, but will be its own original story – and even Hideo Kojima won't be involved "too much"    Hideo Kojima enjoys the trip of a lifetime to Brazil to promote Death Stranding 2, meeting a doppelganger of himself, probably eating a cake modeled after himself, and more    Zootropolis 2 creators brought almost 200 characters to the screen for the sequel and drew inspiration from Disney's "incredible legacy," including Jungle Book and Robin Hood    Hideo Kojima unveils first look at Death Stranding anime – and its intriguing subtitle, too    Latest in Animated Movies New KPop Demon Hunters art book confirms a tragic theory about Rumi's mom    Zootopia 3 hasn't been confirmed yet, but an Easter egg hidden in Zootopia 2 might reveal what the Disney threequel would be about    Netflix releases free KPop Demon Hunters digital art book filled with 142 pages of Huntr/x secrets and never before seen concept art    6 months after Lilo and Stitch, Disney has another billion-dollar hit on its hands after Zootopia 2 debuts to a record-breaking $556 million opening weekend    Superman scene-stealer Skyler Gisondo has joined the cast of Shrek 5 as one of the "brogres"    Zootropolis 2 creators brought almost 200 characters to the screen for the sequel and drew inspiration from Disney's "incredible legacy," including Jungle Book and Robin Hood    Latest in News Hideo Kojima's new film role is not at all what we expected, but it's somehow perfect    "Unforgivable" Stranger Things season 5 NES blooper has retro game fans fuming, albeit mostly jokingly    REPO is adding cosmetics, and they can only be unlocked by playing the dang game: "If you happen to love microtransactions, I'm going to disappoint you deeply"    Amazon's God of War TV show enlists veteran director of Shogun, The Boys, and Fallout as it starts casting Kratos and Atreus    Sonic the Hedgehog is getting a new spin-off movie in 2028    With Baldur's Gate 3 still in Steam's top 20 after 2 years, Larian ends 2025 with love for the best mods keeping the RPG thriving: "Give yourselves a pat on the back, have a shot of whiskey"    GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1. 1Marvel Cosmic Invasion review: "Excellent '90s-tinged superhero brawling across a punchy campaign falls just short of arcade bliss"
2. 2Escape from Tarkov review: "An extraction shooter that will make you truly miserable if you let it, but can offer dizzying highs you won't find elsewhere"
3. 3Fans think this is the best strategy board game ever made, and I have to admit that they've got a point
4. 4Constance review: "If Hollow Knight: Silksong seems too daunting, this wonderful paint powered adventure should do nicely"
5. 5This enthralling team board game is perfect for playing with family this Thanksgiving

1. 1Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"
2. 2Wicked: For Good review: "Builds to an incredibly cathartic conclusion, but isn't quite as captivating as Part 1"
3. 3The Running Man review: "Some fun action and Glen Powell's star power aren't enough to energize this disappointing Stephen King adaptation"
4. 4Predator: Badlands review: "Die-hard fans may be disappointed, but as a blockbuster action-adventure, Badlands kills it"
5. 5Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc review "Storytelling just as compelling as the chainsaws, devils, and visually excessive fight scenes"

1. 1Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 review: “Can the Duffer brothers stick the landing? It’s sure looking like they will”
2. 2Pluribus season 1 review: "Easily one of the year's best dramas"
3. 3The Witcher season 4 review: "The Henry Cavill-less fourth season is the best yet"
4. 4IT: Welcome to Derry review: "A supremely confident step back into the history of Stephen King's cursed town and killer clown"
5. 5Splinter Cell: Deathwatch review: "A pale imitation of the long-dormant stealth franchise"