Fresh off his Dancing with the Stars win, Robert Irwin is celebrating another major milestone — his big-screen debut.
The 21-year-old wildlife conservationist and son of the late Steve Irwin appears in Disney’s Zootopia 2, voicing a koala appropriately (and hilariously) named Robert Furwin.
“This is honestly so surreal,” Irwin told PEOPLE at the November 13 premiere in Los Angeles. “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.”
The role holds extra meaning given Irwin’s longtime work with koalas at Australia Zoo, which his family runs. “To play a koala, an animal so close to my heart, means everything,” he shared.
Zootopia 2 features an impressive voice cast, including returning stars Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman, plus newcomers including Ed Sheeran, Michael J. Fox, Quinta Brunson, Shakira, and Danny Trejo. Though Irwin has voiced characters before — including a 2020 appearance on Bluey — this marks his official movie debut.
And Irwin’s Dancing With the Stars victory wasn’t just a personal milestone — it etched his name into the show’s history books. The wildlife advocate is now the youngest male celebrity to ever take home the Mirrorball Trophy, surpassing Jordan Fisher, who held the record after winning at 23 back in 2017. Robert and his sister Bindi Irwin are officially the first siblings to both win the competition. Bindi earned her title a decade earlier in 2015 with Derek Hough, which started their family legacy on the ballroom floor.There was another full-circle twist to the night as well.
Irwin’s pro partner, Witney Carson, was also 21 when she earned her very first Mirrorball with Alfonso Ribeiro in season 19 — a full circle twist in the DWTS world.
Zootopia 2 is now playing in theaters.
This story was originally published by Parade on Nov 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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