Robert Irwin Makes His Movie Debut as a Koala Named Robert Furwin in "Zootopia 2": 'So Surreal' (Exclusive) Tommy McArdle, Daniela AvilaNovember 28, 2025 at 7:14 AM 0 Axelle/BauerGriffin/FilmMagic; Disney Robert Irwin on Nov. 13, 2025; Robert Furwin in Zootopia 2 Robert Irwin makes his movie debut in Zootopia 2 as a koala bear named Robert Furwin "To play a koala, an animal so close to my heart, means everything," the Dancing with the Stars winner told PEOPLE at the movie's Nov.
- - Robert Irwin Makes His Movie Debut as a Koala Named Robert Furwin in "Zootopia 2": 'So Surreal' (Exclusive)
Tommy McArdle, Daniela AvilaNovember 28, 2025 at 7:14 AM
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Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; Disney
Robert Irwin on Nov. 13, 2025; Robert Furwin in Zootopia 2 -
Robert Irwin makes his movie debut in Zootopia 2 as a koala bear named Robert Furwin
"To play a koala, an animal so close to my heart, means everything," the Dancing with the Stars winner told PEOPLE at the movie's Nov. 13 premiere
Disney's Zootopia 2 is in theaters now
Robert Irwin is going straight from his Dancing with the Stars win to movie theaters across the world.
The star, 21, makes his movie debut in Disney's new animated sequel Zootopia 2. The Australian environmental conservationist and son of the late Steve Irwin makes a cameo voicing a koala named Robert Furwin.
Irwin recently appeared at the movie's Nov. 13 premiere in Los Angeles alongside his Dancing with the Stars partner Witney Carson before they won the competition series Nov. 25.
"This is honestly so surreal," he told PEOPLE at the 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."
Irwin says his work with koala bears in his native country made getting to voice one onscreen incredibly special to him. "To play a koala, an animal so close to my heart, means everything," he adds.
Disney
Robert Furwin in Zootopia 2
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Irwin's voice appears in Zootopia 2 among an A-list group of celebrities that includes Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman's lead characters Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, as well as 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 and more.
While Irwin has lent his voice to television in the past (he appeared on a 2020 episode of the children's series Bluey) the appearance marks his movie debut.
"I could not miss this night for the world. I'm up to my neck in jive and [DWTS rehearsals] but this is just a night I've been looking forward to for a long time," he told Entertainment Tonight at the premiere.
"When I was approached to play a character in Zootopia 2 I was immediately on board, but when 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."
Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty
Witney Carson and Robert Irwin on Nov. 25, 2025
While speaking with the outlet, Irwin noted that koala bears remain an endangered species in Australia and that he and his family continue to work on "rescuing and rehabilitating koalas" in their home country. "It was very cool to kind of represent that and play a small part in a film that is I think helping people reconnect with animals and nature," he added.
Zootopia 2 is in theaters now.
on People
Source: "AOL Entertainment"
Source: Entertainment
Published: November 28, 2025 at 04:36PM on Source: ANDY MAG
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