Former Imagineer Jim Shull recently spoke to TheWrap, raising eyebrows with his candid take on the Avatar franchise’s trajectory. Referencing the performance of Avatar: The Way of Water and broader audience engagement, Shull suggested the long-term cultural staying power of Avatar may not be as strong as once predicted.
That matters. Because Disney doesn’t just build attractions, it builds entire lands around stories that can endure for generations. Think Star Wars, Toy Story, or even Frozen. The question now is whether Avatar still sits comfortably in that category.
Meanwhile… Coco Is Moving Full Speed Ahead
While Avatar chatter lingers, something very real is happening on the ground.
Coco has officially been confirmed for Disney California Adventure, with construction already underway in the Pixar Pier area. That’s not blue-sky thinking. That’s walls-up, boots-on-the-ground development.
And it speaks volumes about where Disney’s confidence lies. Coco has proven itself as both emotionally resonant and commercially successful, with a cultural footprint that continues to grow years after release.
The Space Problem No One Can Ignore
Disney California Adventure has one major limitation: space.
Unlike Walt Disney World Resort, which has room to build entire worlds from scratch, DCA is constrained, hemmed in by roads, hotels, and existing infrastructure. Every expansion decision matters more.
That brings us to the often-overlooked issue in the Hollywood Backlot: the monorail. The Disneyland Monorail cuts directly through the area, limiting sightlines and making large-scale immersion significantly harder to achieve.
Yes, Imagineering is world-class at hiding these challenges. But there’s a difference between hiding something and building around it entirely.
Could Zootopia Be the Smarter Play?
Enter Zootopia.
Already a proven hit, the franchise is about to get even bigger with Zootopia 2. If early expectations are anything to go by, Disney could be looking at another billion-dollar success, further cementing Zootopia as a modern powerhouse.
More importantly, Zootopia lends itself beautifully to a theme park environment:
- Distinct districts (Sahara Square, Tundratown, etc.)
- A vibrant, kinetic city setting
- Broad character appeal across all ages
We’ve already seen how well this translates in Shanghai, where the Zootopia Land has been widely praised.
Now imagine that energy injected into the Hollywood Backlot. A bustling, stylised city could actually benefit from the monorail slicing through it, reframed as part of the urban environment rather than something to hide.
Avatar vs Zootopia: A Question of Longevity
This is where the debate gets interesting.
Avatar is visually spectacular, no question. Avatar and its sequels have pushed cinematic boundaries. But theme parks aren’t just about spectacle. They’re about connection.
Zootopia, on the other hand, offers:
- Relatable (and merchandise-able!) characters like Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde
- A story rooted in humour, heart, and social themes
- A world that feels endlessly expandable
And crucially, it feels current.
A Fan Perspective
From a personal standpoint, it’s hard not to see the appeal. An Avatar land would undoubtedly be impressive. But exciting? That’s more debatable.
A Zootopia land, by contrast, feels alive. Energetic. Revisit-worthy.
And in a park like Disney California Adventure, where identity has always been a little more fluid than its neighbour, that kind of energy could be exactly what’s needed.
So… Is Disney Reconsidering?
There’s no official confirmation that Disney is pulling back on Avatar for DCA.
But when you line up:
- Jim Shull’s comments on the franchise’s staying power
- Active investment in Coco
- Spatial challenges within the park
- The (rapidly) rising momentum of Zootopia
…it does start to feel like the conversation inside Imagineering might be evolving.
Disney doesn’t abandon ideas lightly. But it does adapt. And right now, Zootopia might just make more sense for California Adventure than a return to Pandora.
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