David Campbell’s character in Disney's upcoming Zootopia has been named ‘David Koalabell’ by Australian fans.
Australians voted on a name in a competition run through the Disney AU/NZ Facebook page.
A localised version of the film will hit cinema screens this March, in which the koala is a newsreader for the Zootopia News Network (ZNN).
Alongside his panther co-anchor, the koala covers the breaking news of an unfolding mystery in Zootopia that threatens the safety of the city.
Campbell will feature only in the Australian and New Zealand release of the film.
The part of the newsreader will be played by local talent in other markets – the only difference between the Australian and US versions.
Campbell, the former Johnny O'Keefe, current co-host of Today Extra for Nine and presenter for the weekend afternoon show on Nova Entertainment’s Smooth FM Network, said: “I’m a huge Disney fan, so it’s such an honour to work with Walt Disney Animation Studios on this project”.
“I can’t wait to see the character come to life on screen as David Koalabell”, he said.
Disney’s Zootopia hits cinemas March 17, getting a jump on Illumination's similarly themed December release Sing, in which a koala character is voiced – with an American accent – by Matthew McConaughey.