Toy Story 5 will reunite Woody with Buzz Lightyear and the rest of Bonnie's toys, but Pixar nearly took a very different approach to the sequel.
According to writer and director Andrew Stanton, the franchise's most iconic character was absent from the earliest draft of the film as the creative team worked through how to continue Woody's story following the events of Toy Story 4.
The revelation comes as Pixar prepares to return to one of its most successful franchises. The sequel arrives seven years after Toy Story 4, which appeared to bring Woody's journey to a natural conclusion.
The new film follows Bonnie's toys as they face an unexpected challenge. Instead of competing with another toy for a child's attention, they are up against technology.
When Bonnie becomes attached to a tablet named Lilypad, voiced by Greta Lee, Woody (Tom Hanks), v, Jessie (Joan Cusack), and the rest of the gang must navigate a world where toys are no longer at the center of playtime.
That premise presented a challenge for Pixar.
Toy Story 4 ended with Woody choosing a life with Bo Peep (Annie Potts), leaving Bonnie's room behind after decades spent defining himself through his role as a child's toy. Bringing him back for another film required more than simply reversing that decision.
Why Woody Was Missing From the First Draft
Speaking to CinemaBlend, Stanton explained that Woody was not part of the first version of Toy Story 5.
“I do admit that I didn't know how to bring him back at first, and so I just, 'cause I know it's gonna take so many drafts to get the movie right, I just wrote the first one without him just to see if I missed him.”
The filmmaker said the exercise was designed to determine whether the story genuinely needed Woody or whether the sequel could move forward without him.
The answer became clear during the writing process.
“And, I did,” he continued. “So I said, alright, we're gonna have to work a little harder and figure out how to make this not just a knee-jerk reaction and make it something that's earned to make 'em come in.”
Rather than abandoning Toy Story 4‘s ending, Stanton said the team focused on finding a way to make Woody's return feel natural within the story.
That ultimately led Pixar to rework the film.
“We finally figured it out and now I can't imagine it any other way,” he said.
The trailer offers some clues about how the sequel will address Woody's absence. Footage released by Pixar shows him communicating with Jessie via walkie-talkie, suggesting he remained in contact with Bonnie's toys after leaving.
He is also shown returning to Bonnie's room, reuniting with characters he left behind at the end of the previous film.
A Franchise Built Around Woody
Few animated characters are as closely tied to a franchise as Woody is to Toy Story.
Since the original film debuted in 1995, the cowboy has served as the emotional anchor of the series. His rivalry with Buzz Lightyear, his loyalty to Andy, and his struggle to find purpose after childhood have driven many of the franchise's biggest storylines.
Stanton said he evaluates characters based on whether they are essential to the story being told.
“My rule is if you take something out, especially a character, would the story be able to happen with or without them? And if it can't, that means good, that they had to be essential no matter how much, it may not be obvious that they're the role they're playing in the movie.”
That test ultimately convinced Pixar that Woody still had a role to play.
Even so, early comments suggest Toy Story 5 may place more focus on Jessie than previous installments. Tim Allen has previously said the film is “all about Jessie,” giving Joan Cusack's cowgirl her biggest role in the franchise so far.
The sequel also features a large returning cast, including Forky (Tony Hale), Rex (Wallace Shawn), Hamm (John Ratzenberger), Slinky Dog (Blake Clark), Trixie (Kristen Schaal), Dolly (Bonnie Hunt), Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves), Combat Carl (Ernie Hudson), and Mr. Pricklepants, now voiced by John Hopkins.
Several newcomers are joining the toy box as well. Conan O'Brien voices Smarty Pants, a toilet-training tech toy, while Bad Bunny plays Pizza with Sunglasses and Craig Robinson voices Atlas, a GPS-themed hippo toy. Alan Cumming will also appear as an evil version of Bullseye.
The film has generated additional attention in recent weeks because of speculation surrounding Taylor Swift's possible involvement.
Stanton recently addressed those rumors, saying Pixar would be “frickin' honored” to work with the singer before clarifying that the version of the film recently completed by the studio did not feature a Taylor Swift song over the end credits.
Toy Story 5 opens in theaters on June 19, 2026 – will you be seeing the film?
