Whilst the latest Toy Story-adjacent film, the spin-off Lightyear starring Chris Evans, came out in 2022, it’s been more than four years since Toy Story fans last saw the gang in full on the big screen.

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But back in February, Disney CEO Bob Iger surprised everyone with an announcement that a new Toy Story movie is in development, along with new instalments in the Frozen and Zootopia franchises.

And now it appears that Tim Allen and Tom Hanks, who voiced Buzz Lightyear and Woody respectively in the first four films, are already getting calls about Toy Story 5.

Allen confirmed in a recent appearance on The Tonight Show that he and Hanks had been contacted to work on another Toy Story movie.

"Bob Iger, head of Disney, said it was on and said it was going to happen. They have reached out to Tom and I to reprise the roles... You wonder if four was too many. Is five going to be too much?" he said.

He added: “According to the scuttlebutt, the writer that’s doing it wrote one of the better ones and said, ‘If I didn’t get this right, I wouldn’t do it.’ It could be a very, very interesting way to reunite it.”

So, what can we expect from the next outing? Read on for everything you need to know about Toy Story 5.

Will there be a Toy Story 5?

Toy Story 4
The characters of Toy Story 4. Disney/Pixar

There will! Almost four years after the fourth film debuted, it was confirmed by Disney CEO Bob Iger in February 2023 that Toy Story 5 is officially in the works, along with sequels to two of the studio's other popular franchises.

Iger said: "Today I'm so pleased to announce that we have sequels in the works from our animation studios to some of our most popular franchises, Toy Story, Frozen and Zootopia."

When will Toy Story 5 be released?

The toys in Toy Story 3
The toys in Toy Story 3 Disney/Pixar

It's not yet known when Toy Story 5 will be released - however, we can look at previous releases to get a sense of when we might see it.

For instance, Toy Story 4 was initially announced in 2014, before then coming out in 2019. If the fifth film takes a similar time in production then we could expect it to release in cinemas in 2028. If so, prepare for a long wait.

However, the film certainly could move through its production at a faster rate and we'll keep this page updated as soon as any more concrete information becomes available.

What will Toy Story 5 be about?

News that Toy Story 5 is on the way surprised a number of fans, not least because of how final the ending of Toy Story 4 felt. In fact, at the time, producer Mark Nielsen said: "We see Toy Story 3 as the end of Woody’s time with Andy, and we really see this as the completion of Woody’s arc and the story of Buzz and Woody."

That film saw Woody reunite with Bo Peep, and at the end of the film decide to stay with her, separating from the group as they went off with Bonnie.

Nothing is currently known about the plot of Toy Story 5. However, based on a Twitter post from Tim Allen following Disney's announcement, it certainly seems as though the film will reunite Woody and Buzz following their goodbye at the end of the previous film.

Allen said: "See ya soon Woody, you are a sad strange little man and you have my pity. And off we go to a number 5! To infinity and beyond!"

Toy Story 5 may also see the return of Andy, the toys' original owner.

Speaking with The Movie Dweeb on YouTube to promote season 2 of The Santa Clauses, Allen was asked about Toy Story 5, and said in response: "I don't know this is where the story's going, but what if the whole story was through... Andy is an adult, has children, and they just happen to be online, [and] the kid goes, 'Have you ever seen this toy?'

"And Andy sees that Buzz has got a hand missing, and he's in a... they're selling these vintage toys. And Andy goes and gathers all the toys up. He has to go out and find each one of them, put them back together, bring them back to his house, and starts the whole thing over again with his son."

He continued: "And I said, 'What a wonderful idea is that he brings it [back]. It's all through Andy's eyes, because we made his life, and now he's returning that favour."

Toy Story 5 cast - who will be returning for the fifth film?

Woody and Buzz in Toy Story
Woody and Buzz in Toy Story Disney/Pixar

As detailed above, Tim Allen appears to have already confirmed on Twitter, which was recently re-branded as X, that he will be back as Buzz.

Tom Hanks is yet to confirm his return, but we would certainly expect that he'll be back to reprise his role as Woody for Toy Story 5.

Meanwhile, we would also expect the majority of the cast from Toy Story 4 could return, including Andy's original group of toys, Bonnie's toys (including Forky) and some of the lost toys Woody met with Bo Peep, including Ducky, Bunny and Duke Caboom.

Two actors who sadly won't be able to reprise their roles are Don Rickles and Estelle Harris, who played Mr and Mrs Potato Head. The former died in 2017, and appeared in the fourth film posthumously using archive recordings, while the latter died in 2022.

It is currently unknown if the roles will be re-cast, whether the characters will be written out of the film, or whether the actors will appear posthumously through the use of archive recordings.

For now, here's a list of the actors we'd imagine could return for Toy Story 5:

  • Tom Hanks as Woody
  • Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear
  • Joan Cusack as Jessie
  • Annie Potts as Bo Peep
  • Wallace Shawn as Rex
  • John Ratzenberger as Hamm
  • Blake Clark as Slinky Dog
  • Jeff Pidgeon as Aliens
  • Tony Hale as Forky
  • Keegan-Michael Key as Ducky
  • Jordan Peele as Bunny
  • Keanu Reeves as Duke Caboom
  • Ally Maki as Giggle McDimples
  • Bonnie Hunt as Dolly
  • Kristen Schaal as Trixie
  • Timothy Dalton as Mr Pricklepants
  • Jeff Garlin as Buttercup
  • Emily Davis as Billy, Goat, and Gruff
  • Madeleine McGraw as Bonnie
  • Jay Hernandez as Bonnie's dad
  • Lori Alan as Bonnie's mom

Is there a trailer for Toy Story 5?

There isn't a trailer available for Toy Story 5 just yet but we'll keep this page updated once one becomes available. For now, you can rewatch the trailer for Toy Story 4 right here.

The first four films in the Toy Story franchise are available to watch now on Disney Plus. Sign up to Disney Plus now for £79.90 for a year or £7.99 a month.

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Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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