(Photo Credit: Pixar)
Toy Story 5 is officially out in theaters now. Before seeing it, there are a few things audiences might want to know about the brand new Toy Story movie before watching it in theaters.
Toy Story 5 is set to release in theaters on June 19, 2026. The movie is directed by Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo) and Kenna Harris, with Lindsey Collins serving as a producer. The fifth entry in the iconic franchise features the voices of Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, Joan Cusack as Jessie, Greta Lee as Lilypad, Conan O’Brien as Smarty Pants, and Tony Hale as Forky. Joining them are John Ratzenberger as Hamm, Wallace Shawn as Rex, Blake Clark as Slinky Dog, Jeff Bergman as Mr. Potato Head, Anna Vocino as Mrs. Potato Head, Annie Potts as Bo Peep, and more.
“The toys are back, and this time it’s Toy meets Tech. Buzz, Woody, Jessie, and the rest of the gang’s jobs are challenged when they’re introduced to what kids are obsessed with today….electronics,” reads the official synopsis of the movie.
What should Toy Story 5 audiences know about the movie beforehand?
Ahead of the film’s release, the biggest thing to note about the upcoming movie is that, at its heart, it will largely be about Jessie. The cowgirl rag doll that was originally introduced in Toy Story 2 has been a mainstay for most of the Toy Story franchise. However, the world of Toy Story has largely revolved around the likes of Woody and Buzz. This time, though, Jessie is “the heart” of the movie, according to director Andrew Stanton.
“I just felt she had so much unaddressed, that she had a deep well to draw from,” Stanton said in an interview with Total Film. “Woody used to have a deep well but we drew so much from him, I just thought he needed a break. And we made a conscious point of passing the badge on from Woody to Jessie at the end of [Toy Story] 4. I loved, even if we didn’t go to another film, we’d have that, knowing she was a leader now in running Bonnie’s room.
“So, it just made sense when I was asked to work on this one to start there, because it would be a very different room run by her. Even though it’s a similar problem of a new thing coming into the room and disrupting things, it’s a different era, it’s a different kind of character. And she had so much, like I said, under the hood, I knew her insecurities of abandonment would come out right away.”
Jessie’s story in the Toy Story franchise has been explored to a degree, especially in the second film. However, with this new movie seeing Jessie act as the leader of the group, we’ll likely be learning much more about her backstory, giving us an even deeper dive into what makes her so loyal.
Originally written by Anthony Nash at SuperHeroHype
