The Toy Story saga is heading into a bold new phase, and this time, Jessie is calling the shots.
When Pixar released Toy Story in 1995, it not only became the first fully computer-animated feature film but also reshaped the future of animation. The film earned more than $400 million worldwide and quickly became one of the most celebrated titles of its decade. Over time, the franchise evolved into a multi-billion-dollar juggernaut that spans movies, shorts, and immersive Disney theme park lands.
After Toy Story 3 seemingly wrapped up the core trilogy in 2010, Toy Story 4 followed in 2019, bidding farewell to Woody and Buzz–or so it seemed. Upon Bob Iger’s return as Disney CEO in 2022, the studio announced several high-profile sequels, including Frozen 3, Zootopia 2, and Toy Story 5. Zootopia 2 will arrive November 28, 2025, ahead of Toy Story 5’s June 19, 2026, release.
Although Tom Hanks and Tim Allen are back as Woody and Buzz Lightyear, the focus this time shifts toward Jessie, voiced once again by Joan Cusack. After Woody left to help lost toys at the end of Toy Story 4, Jessie assumed leadership of Bonnie’s toys, with Buzz by her side. Pixar says the next film will explore how technology has changed childhood play, introducing a new toy named Lilypad, a tablet that joins the cast.
Back in May, Tim Allen told Entertainment Tonight that the movie is “a story about Jessie” and “very clever,” adding that it will be “worth it.” During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, he elaborated: “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.”
Merchandise leaks have given fans a glimpse at what’s to come. Social media user Opposing Horse (@OpposingHorse) shared T-shirt images highlighting Jessie’s leadership and introducing several newcomers, including Atlas the “chatty hippo” and Snappy the “cutest camera.” Another shirt shows Woody sporting a poncho.
Early promotional art featuring Jessie alongside Rex, Hamm, and Dolly–but not the Potato Heads or Slinky Dog–led to online discussion. Some fans commented, “NO POTATO HEADS THIS IS TERRIBLE” and “Woke incoming.” Many others pointed out that Don Rickles (Mr. Potato Head) died in 2017 and Estelle Harris (Mrs. Potato Head) in 2022. Pixar previously honored Rickles in Toy Story 4 using archived dialogue.
Disney and Pixar have since confirmed that Slinky Dog, Forky, and Bullseye will appear, with Ernie Hudson taking over as Combat Carl following Carl Weathers’ passing. Conan O’Brien joins the voice cast as Smarty Pants, while Anna Faris reportedly voices the new character Lilypad.
As Toy Story 5 readies for its summer 2026 release, Pixar is setting the stage for a heartfelt new adventure that hands the reins to Jessie–a fan-favorite hero finally getting her moment in the spotlight.
They need to give woody his voice box back! Toy story 4 was evil and not cute. This movie 5 could rectify that, have jessie save woody to give him a new voice !