Zootopia: 10 Crazy Things Fans Didn't Know About Nick
10 things you didn't know about Nick Wilde in Disney's Zootopia.
He's a suave, smart, cunning fox who has won the hearts of legions of Disney fans, and possibly a bunny - he's the one and only, Nick Wilde. Along with his bunny sidekick, Judy Hopps, Nick is one half of the dynamic duo at Zootopia, and the two are easily Disney's best animal characters.
But there's more to this crafty guy than popsicles and Hawaiian shirts. In fact, the Fox that many fans know and love is a far cry from the original concept in the film's early drafts. So what was he like before he went from liar to enforcer? Or even before Judy entered the script?
His First Appearance Was (Technically) in Big Hero 6
Every Disney fan worth their salt knows that the studio likes to religiously hide Easter eggs in their movies. But every once in a while, they're hidden in tidbits that are homages to films that are in the making or haven't been released yet. As Honey Lemon takes a group selfie at the Big Hero 6 exhibit, keep an eye out for her phone case.
The familiar fox shape is more than just a cute design. That's none other than Nick Wilde from the Disney movie Before Zootopia arrives. It's an even better joke in Zootopia, since the film also pays homage to another film that hasn't been released in Frozen 2 yet. The inspiration for the animation feature. There are some similarities between Nick and some villain in Sherwood Forest. Disney's adaptations of Robin Hood and Nickelodeon are so similar that fans have compared the world of Zootopia to that of Sherwood Forest. One famous theory even states that they share a timeline. Maybe Robin is related to Nick?
Nick Wilde Was Partially Inspired by Robin Hood
In some early drafts of the film, Nick was supposed to be the main character in the final product. In one concept, both Nick and Judy are agents in a colorful Disney spy thriller set on an exotic jungle island. In another scene, he's a proven and bullied predator trying to achieve his lifelong dream with the help of a shady mob boss. But once Judy entered the scene, he was recast as a more comedic character.
Nick Wilde Was Originally The Film’s Focus
Once upon a time, "Zootopia" was several shades darker than dark In tone and story. In one of the original predator versus prey corners, predators are forced to wear shock collars to keep them from "going savage." Nick's ultimate goal in this episode is to create a theme park called "Wild Times," where predators can take off their collars and be themselves. Although the idea was scrapped, the warehouse of the Wild Age can still be seen in the film.
Nick Wilde Originally Had A Tragic Backstory
With the episode "Wild Times", the idea of "taming collars" was promoted as a not-so-subtle way of discriminating against predators. If a predator's mood and temper run high, the collar will basically scare them into submission. The idea also shows Nick being violently shocked after wrestling with some of the other animals, which is obviously too dark and even a little sad. However, the use of the muzzle in Nick's flashback sequence reflects this.
And A Literal Torture Scene
On the other hand, there is also an idea of Nick and Judy as a pair of secret agents, but with Nick as the seasoned professional and Judy as the eager young cadet.
Nick And Judy Were Spies In Early Development
It will see them go on a secret mission to a tropical island that eventually becomes the city Zootopia, where mammals go missing. It was an interesting idea, but unfortunately never got off the storyboard.
Speaking of storyboards, see this image of the original development sketch from Spy Ideas. Hugo, the orange cat behind the bar, is crucial to the development of both characters. The first, and probably the obvious one, is Officer Clawhauser, a potbellied feline with a heart of gold. The second, of course, is Nick's island-inspired outfit. Take another look at his shirt. look familiar?
Nick Wilde's Shirt Came From a Clawhauser Prototype
A minor detail, but worth mentioning. Voice and movement are two elements that come into play subconsciously during character development. The scene where Nick enjoys a shrew cake at Frou-Frou's wedding is cute and hilarious, but also very choreographed.
John Lasseter Inspired The Way Nick Wilde Eats Cake
In a special shot in the film, when the filmmakers are puzzled by how the fox eats the confection so delicately, John Lasseter steps in and reveals himself, essentially becoming a model for the scene.
Jason Bateman is an actor with serious comedic flair, so he was practically born to voice animated characters. Nowhere is this more apparent than Nick's Popsicle rushes to the second act of the movie. This scene is completely improvised and is even longer in the deleted scene. Let's just say the results were hysterical. Too bad the full version didn't make it into the final movie.
The Jumbeaux Pop Scene Was Ad-Libbed
Ralph Breaks the Internet probably has the most Easter eggs ever released by the studio. Not only does the movie feature cameos from stormtroopers, Disney princesses, and even Stan Lee himself, but there's also a pair of familiar faces from the urban jungle of Zootopia. Nick can be seen enjoying a Pawpsicle at the actor's entrance. In one of the crowd photos, Judy can also be seen talking to a certain furry member of the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. It seemed like a small world after all.
Nick Wilde Has A Cameo In Ralph Breaks The Internet
NEXT: 10 Zootopia characters getting more screen time on Disney+ shows
