Dancing With the Stars season 34 champion Robert Irwin is making his way around the press circuit, but not without lending his voice to an animated role in Zootopia 2.
In the sequel to Zootopia, the Australian environmental conservationist voiced a koala named Robert Furwin.
Robert Irwin’s movie debut:
“This is honestly so surreal,” the late Steve Irwin’s son told PEOPLE at the film’s premiere. “The fact that I get to be part of a film that is all about celebrating animals, it’s about celebrating the reptiles, the snakes, just as much as the cute and cuddly bunnies and koalas. I just love that.”
“When I was approached to play a character in Zootopia 2 I was immediately on board. But, then they said you’re going to play a koala named Robert Furwin. I’m like, ‘Mate, it doesn’t get better than that,'” he added. “The icon of Australia, the koala!”
Robert Irwin isn’t the only big name associated with the animated film. Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, Andy Samberg, Idris Elba, Shakira, Quinta Brunson, Danny Trejo, Macaulay Culkin, Brenda Song, John Leguizamo, Jenny Slate, Ed Sheeran, Michael J. Fox (love to hear it), and more also appear in Zootopia 2.
Forever an activist:
Robert used his opportunity with the publication to note that koala bears remain an endangered species in Australia. He and his family continue to work on “rescuing and rehabilitating koalas” in their home country.
“It was very cool to play a small part in a film that is helping people reconnect with animals and nature.”
