Tim Allen, the voice of Buzz Lightyear, has provided new details about the progress of Pixar’s “Toy Story 5”. Announced by Disney CEO Bob Iger in February 2023, the fifth installment in the beloved 3D animated movie series is set to hit theaters on June 19, 2026. While the exact plot of “Toy Story 5” remains a closely guarded secret, director Andrew Stanton has revealed that the toys will grapple with staying relevant in the age of electronic entertainment.
In an interview, Allen confirmed that he recently wrapped up his first five-hour recording session as Buzz for the new movie. He admitted that it felt “really weird” at first to reprise the role but eventually got into the groove after two hours in the recording booth. Allen also praised the story and dismissed the notion that the sequel is just a money-making venture. He emphasized that if the script hadn’t been clever, Pixar wouldn’t have been able to convince him and Tom Hanks to return. Here’s what he said:
“Well, I don’t know what I’m supposed to say. Yes, I just did the first five-hour session for Buzz, probably a week ago. It’s really, really weird to get back in it. I can’t tell you anything. It’s a very, very clever story. Do you wanna do five of these? I don’t really believe it’s about the money. I’m sure they want it to be a success, but that’s not why they did it. Had they not come up with a brilliant script, they wouldn’t have done it, and they wouldn’t have called me and Tom [Hanks]. It’s really clever. It was really a struggle to get, and then maybe two hours in, I was doing Buzz. I’m so blessed to be Buzz Lightyear, to be honest. It’s gonna be fun. I think we’re a year out. I’ve gotten up to the third act. We’ll do the third act. And then, we’ll go back and clean it. And then, I’ll do it about five more times. It’s a really good story, guys. It’s really good.”
What Allen’s comments mean for “Toy Story 5” is that the initial reactions to the movie’s announcement were mixed. Despite the franchise’s huge popularity, given that it already had two seemingly conclusive endings in “Toy Story 3” and “Toy Story 4”, many fans thought another sequel was unnecessary. Some online commentators even accused it of being a cynical attempt to cash in, leading to low initial expectations.
However, Allen seems well aware of this initial backlash. His assertion that the script for “Toy Story 5” is of high quality and his obvious enthusiasm for the project might help ease concerns that the new sequel is sacrificing the franchise’s legacy just for profit. With the Toys vs Tech theme in “Toy Story 5” echoing many of the ideas from the original movie, Allen’s remarks are painting a more positive picture of the project than many initially expected.
Buzz and Woody’s return in “Toy Story 5” has already demonstrated its ability to continue the franchise after seemingly wrapping it up once before. Exactly how Hanks’ Woody will reunite with Buzz and the other toys after the emotional ending of “Toy Story 4” remains to be seen. But considering Pixar managed to create another engaging story after “Toy Story 3”, there’s reason to believe they can do it again.
Moreover, while many of the online commentators expressing doubts may have grown up with the early movies, time has passed and they’re no longer the main target audience. For younger viewers, many of whom are the children of those who watched the originals as kids, they’re probably less concerned about the possible corporate motives behind “Toy Story 5” and are simply excited to see the much-loved characters embark on new adventures.
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