It’s been seven years since Toy Story 4 wrapped up with an emotional goodbye, and now Pixar is bringing everyone back. Toy Story 5 hits theaters on June 19 — just three weeks away — and the anticipation building around the film is unlike anything the animation studio has generated in years.
The story centers on what happens when Bonnie receives Lilypad, a high-tech frog-shaped smart tablet voiced by Greta Lee, as a gift. The arrival of this new device throws the entire toy box into crisis as Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the rest of the crew suddenly find themselves obsolete in a child’s world increasingly dominated by screens. It’s essentially a film about the anxiety of being replaced by technology — which, given the cultural moment we’re living in, hits a bit differently.
Tom Hanks returns as Woody, Tim Allen is back as Buzz, and Joan Cusack reprises Jessie, who reportedly takes a more central role in this chapter. The rest of the classic ensemble — Wallace Shawn as Rex, Tony Hale as Forky, Blake Clark as Slinky, Annie Potts as Bo Peep — are all back. New additions include Conan O’Brien as a toy called Smarty Pants, Ernie Hudson as Combat Carl, Keanu Reeves in an undisclosed role, and Greta Lee as Lilypad.
The film is directed by Andrew Stanton (who also helmed Finding Nemo and WALL-E) alongside co-director McKenna Harris — a strong creative pairing for a franchise installment this significant. Early tracking suggests it could be one of the biggest theatrical releases of the summer, positioned to claim Father’s Day weekend on its opening Sunday.
After the commercial disappointment of 2022’s Lightyear, Pixar clearly needed a win. The fact that this is a true Toy Story sequel — with the original voice cast, an emotionally resonant premise, and IMAX for opening week — suggests they’re going for it fully.
