Toy Story 5: What We Know About The Pixar Sequel So Far

We have not seen the last of our favorite sentient toys, who are set to return to the big screen once again in Toy Story 5. The upcoming Pixar movie will be the latest installment of the beloved animation studio’s oldest franchise, as the original, revolutionary Toy Story — which probably would have won the Best Animated Feature Oscar had the Academy included the category at that time — became the first feature-length film comprised entirely of computer-generated graphics in 1995.

We’ve gotten a lot of news about the upcoming film, including some awesome casting details, a little bit about the plot, and more. It’s time to update everything we know about the upcoming Disney movie so far in the following guide.

What Is The Toy Story 5 Release Date?

Toy Story 5 is set to hit theaters on June 19, 2026. As THR reported in April 2024, Disney confirmed the release date more than a year after company CEO Bob Iger first announced the sequel in February 2023. So far, there is no indication that the premiere will be moved, so we're less than eight months away! It's been a long time coming, but the 2026 movie schedule is right around the corner, and the latest Toy Story installment is going to be a big part of it!

Surprisingly, since it is coming out seven years after Toy Story 4, it will mark the shortest gap between installments since Toy Story 2 was released four years after the original. Audiences had to wait 11 years for Toy Story 3, and the fourth sequel came along nine years after that. Seven seems short!

Who Is In The Toy Story 5 Cast?

Tom Hanks once indicated that Toy Story 4 would be the final installment of the series, but he will indeed be returning to voice everyone’s favorite cowboy, Woody, in Toy Story 5. Also returning will be Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear. Here’s everything we know about the cast so far.

Tom Hanks (Woody)

There really can’t be a Toy Story movie without the two lead characters from the previous movies. Thankfully, Tom Hanks will be back to play Woody. It would be really weird if the two-time Academy Award winner were to be absent.

Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear)

The former Home Improvement cast member revealed that he was contacted early in the production phase while appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, having previously said that he would be open to a fifth installment in 2019. He will indeed be returning after sitting out the 2022 spinoff, Lightyear, when Chris Pine voiced the intergalactic hero.

Joan Cusack (Jessie)

Joan Cusack will be reprising her role as Jessie. Cusack joined the franchise as the cowgirl in Toy Story 2 and has been in all the movies since. The Hollywood veteran is pretty choosy about her work these days, seemingly preferring to hang out at home in Chicago (who can blame her), so we’re thrilled to see her returning!

Ernie Hudson (Combat Carl)

Tragically, the world lost Carl Weathers in February 2024, but the good news is that Combat Carl, the character he voiced in the first four movies, will be back. Filling Weathers’ shoes is another great Hollywood star, Ernie Hudson of Ghostbusters fame.

Tony Hale (Forky)

Veep cast member Tony Hale will be back as Forky, who was a new addition to the franchise in Toy Story 4. Hale is one of the funniest actors in Hollywood for his work on Veep and Arrested Development. His involvement in any project is always welcome!

Anna Faris (Lilypad)

In June 2025, Pixar dropped an early look at the movie, including the new character, a tablet named Lilypad, voiced by Anna Faris. Not everyone is thrilled to see technology like this get introduced to the franchise, which is understandable, but if you know kids today, their tablets are their #1 toy, so it makes sense. At least it seems like Lilypad will play a villain of sorts.

Conan O’Brien (Smarty Pants)

Another exciting addition to the series is Conan O’Brien as a character named Smarty Pants. Obviously, we don’t know too much about the character, but based on the name alone, it sounds perfect for the Harvard grad. The former Late Night host plunged feet first into acting in 2025, including a celebrated turn as a more serious character in If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You. It’ll be fun to hear him voice a more lighthearted character in Toy Story 5.

As of now, that’s all we know about the cast. There is no word on other actors from the previous films, like Annie Potts, Pixar’s “good luck charm” John Ratzenberger, Keanu Reeves, Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key Wallace Shawn, but there is sure to be more news on additional characters in the coming weeks and months.

What Toy Story 5 Is About

We don’t know that much about the plot of the upcoming sequel, but it does seem that from Pixar’s teases that Bonnie’s new tablet plays a big role, playing with (and addicted to) Lilypad. Sounds like a task for Woody and Buzz to us! That seems like a story that kids (and parents) can relate to in 2025. The world of toys has changed a lot over the last 30 years, so it only makes sense that the Toy Story franchise continues to evolve with it.

Andrew Stanton Is Directing Toy Story 5

Andrew Stanton will be helming Toy Story 5. The scoop originally came from a post on X by The Monty Verse, which attended a special screening of Pixar’s latest hit, Inside Out 2, featuring a Q&A with Pixar COO Pete Docter, during which he “seemingly” revealed Stanton to be the film’s choice. It has since been confirmed by multiple outlets.

This marks the latest chapter in a very successful career of crafting some of the best Pixar movies ever, starting with his feature-length debut in 1998 with A Bug’s Life. That was followed by Oscar-winning turns as the director of 2003’s Finding Nemo and 2008’s WALL-E. He returned to the ocean for Finding Dory in 2016.

Stanton broke into live-action cinema by helming 2012’s John Carter, went on to direct episodes of several hit TV shows like Stranger Things and Better Call Saul, and also has an upcoming sci-fi movie in the works called In the Blink of an Eye.

How To Watch The Toy Story Movies So Far

While the upcoming movie may be called Toy Story 5, it will technically be the sixth feature-length installment in this franchise if we count the 2022 in-universe spin-off, Lightyear, which saw Chris Evans voice the titular Space Ranger instead of Tim Allen. You can watch that animated sci-fi flick, the first four official Toy Story movies, and the other related shorts and TV specials with a Disney+ subscription to make sure you are completely caught up on the characters’ story by the time the latest film hits theaters.

Stream the Toy Story movies on Disney+.
Stream Lightyear on Disney+.

There are actually quite a few fans who are not warm to the idea of a fifth Toy Story movie, with many believing that Toy Story 4 should have been the finale. In fact, there are many who believe that the sentimental ending to Toy Story 3 — which saw college-age Andy give his toys to Bonnie — was truly the perfect send-off. Regardless, Pixar’s approach to Toy Story 5 seems to be one purely from the heart, which is enough to get us excited for playtime again.