Buzz and Woody are stepping aside–this time, it’s another character's turn to shine.
When Pixar debuted Toy Story in 1995, the studio revolutionized animation with the first feature made entirely through computer graphics. The film became a worldwide hit, earning over $400 million and setting the stage for a franchise that would span decades. Since then, Toy Story has grown to include four films, multiple shorts and spinoffs, three animated series, and themed lands across Disney parks worldwide.
The original trilogy premiered in 1995, 1999, and 2010, before Toy Story 4 arrived in 2019. Fans assumed it was the finale, especially after Tom Hanks (Woody) hinted the series had reached its natural conclusion. So when Disney confirmed Toy Story 5 in 2023—with both Hanks and Tim Allen returning—it sparked equal parts excitement and caution.
After Toy Story 4, Woody leaves Bonnie behind to help lost toys find new owners, while Jessie, voiced by Joan Cusack, becomes the new leader in Bonnie’s room. Pixar has confirmed that the sequel will explore how technology affects childhood play, introducing a new toy character named Lilypad.
Tim Allen first told Entertainment Tonight that the movie is “a story about Jessie” and “very clever,” adding that the story will be “worth it.” During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Allen revealed more: “They reboot everything. It’s all about Jessie, which is really cool. She’s in trouble, and she needs help. We’re all over, so she has to gather everybody.”
He also teased a wild opening sequence. “We’re [in] a FedEx plane [when] a hundred Buzz dolls land, and they’re all lost. They’re hysterical. They’re trying to find their way back, and there are a hundred of them. I hope they have it in there,” he said.
But early promotional art stirred debate online. The image showed Jessie surrounded by Rex, Hamm, and other familiar toys—but no sign of the Potato Heads or Slinky Dog. Fans speculated online, with some claiming the omissions were political, writing, “NO POTATO HEADS THIS IS TERRIBLE” and “Woke incoming.”
Those concerns were soon put to rest. Don Rickles, who voiced Mr. Potato Head, passed away in 2017, and Estelle Harris, Mrs. Potato Head’s voice, died in 2022. Pixar had already honored Rickles in Toy Story 4 using unused archival audio.
Despite the confusion, Pixar confirmed that Slinky Dog, Forky, and Bullseye will appear in Toy Story 5. Ernie Hudson will voice Combat Carl, succeeding the late Carl Weathers, while Conan O’Brien joins as Smarty Pants. Anna Faris is reportedly voicing Lilypad.
Toy Story 5 opens in theaters on June 19, 2026.
How do you feel about Jessie taking center stage?
