Beloved 'Zootopia 2' Character Sparks Deadly Real-Life Trend
Disney's late-November release, Zootopia 2, hasn't just been a smashing success at the box office; it's becoming a movement. Fans of the beloved original film have flocked to movie theaters worldwide to watch the year's most popular movie. Along with returning characters Ginnifer Goodwin as Judy Hopps and Jason Bateman as Nick Wilde, the film features a long list of top-tier talent. However, one new addition to the Zootopia series has quickly emerged as a fan favorite: Gary De'Snake.
Gary, voiced by Ke Huy Quan, is a blue pit viper. The character is so popular that it's actually become a bit of an issue in one country, with fans searching far and wide to make the highly poisonous blue pit viper their new pet.
The 'Gary' Effect: Why Fans Are Obsessed With the New 'Zootopia 2' Snake
A lot of credit goes to Quan for bringing the character to life in the movie. With a storyline that shines an even brighter light on Gary De'Snake, specifically the character's type of snake in the blue pit vipers, the immense popularity shouldn't come as a significant surprise. Gary attempts to clear his family's and all reptiles' reputations in Zootopia 2, receiving help from the two stars, Hopps and Wilde.
The character is just one piece of what's fueled an unbelievable box-office stretch for Zootopia 2. According to Box Office Mojo, Zootopia 2 has already surpassed $1.1 billion worldwide, including $878.8 million internationally and $260.5 million domestically.
Here is a rundown of just some of the popular names in Zootopia 2:
- Ginnifer Goodwin: Judy Hopps
- Jason Bateman: Nick Wilde
- Ke Huy Quan: Gary De'Snake
- Idris Elba: Chief Bogo
- Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson: Zeke
- Shakira: Gazelle
- Macaulay Culkin: Cattrick Lynxley
- Ed Sheeran: Ed Shearin
- Brenda Song: Kitty Lynxley
- Andy Samberg: Pawbert Lynxley
- Robert Irwin: Robert Furwin
- Danny Trejo: Jesus
- Stephanie Beatriz: Bloats
- Mario Lopez: Denny Howlett
- Michael J. Fox: Michael J. The Fox
- Josh Gad: Paul Moldebrandt
Specifically, the Disney film has been a smash hit in China, where it became the top-grossing foreign film of all time, raking in $503 million so far, as CNN detailed. The movie Zootopia 2 passed? The original film in the series: Zootopia. Among the characters who resonated most with fans in China is Gary, which has led to a surge in interest in blue pit vipers.
Venomous & Real: The Dangers of the Pit Viper
Along with the film's success in China, CNN spoke with a 21-year-old named Qi Weihao, who purchased a blue pit viper after seeing Zootopia 2. Qi is a reptile lover and discussed his decision to purchase a blue pit viper, thanks to Disney's latest hit.
"Zootopia 2 helps give reptile pets a better image – they’re not oddballs; and Gary is the most representative character among them," Qi said. "I love his enthusiastic attitude and his sense of responsibility."
Qi is far from the only one who fell in love with the character Gary. As Chinese state media outlet The Paper reported, there has been a surge in searches on e-commerce platforms in the country, with people seeking out the Indonesian pit viper. Although the pit viper can be highly poisonous, Chinese laws and regulations do not prohibit raising an Indonesian pit viper. As CNN detailed, the rules do prohibit mailing "various live animals" or "dangerous items like toxins.
With the growing interest in pit vipers in China comes plenty of concern. As Australian Geographic detailed, the venom from one may "rarely kill" someone, but it has a "hemorrhagic venom." This type of venom can lead to "pain, swelling, necrosis of the flesh and severe bleeding, both internally and externally."
MD Searchlight also detailed several eye-opening outcomes that can arise from a blue pit viper bite, including, in the rare instance, death.
"The snake’s venom contains various harmful substances that can damage cells, muscle, blood, and occasionally nerves. The severity of symptoms from a pit viper bite can vary and the full extent might not be immediately clear," the site wrote.
Obviously, owning any venomous pet comes with varying levels of risk. But if you're seeking out a blue pit viper, virtually all recommendations listed highlight that you should only do so if you have an extensive background in handling venomous snakes.
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