Disney has recently set out to recoup substantial financial losses, and one of the ways the studio intends to do so is by putting the spotlight back on some of its most iconic animated franchises.
Toy Story, Frozen, and Zootopia sequels were all announced earlier this year, with returning Disney CEO Bob Iger describing the move as a means of "leaning into our unrivalled brands." That's company jargon for the benefit of shareholders, of course, and until now, no firm details have been revealed about any of these projects or how close they are to becoming a reality.
That's now changed as The DisInsider Show (via Toonado.com) claims the current idea is for Woody and Buzz's original owner, Andy, to return as an adult in the next chapter. His family is said to be integral to the movie's plot, presumably meaning we'll move on from Bonnie and see his old toys somehow make their way back home.
We're not entirely sure how that will work in Woody's case because at the end of Toy Story 4 - the second movie thought to be the final chapter in the long-running series - the cowboy chose to become a "Lost Toy" with Bo Peep and bid farewell to his old friends, including Buzz.
Still, there are likely plenty of ways to reunite these two if the plot calls for it.
The hosts of the show wet on to claim that Mr. Potato Head and Mrs. Potato Head will return to the animated franchise, though with new actors lending their voices to both characters after the deaths of original Toy Story stars Don Rickles and Estelle Harris. Composer Randy Newman, meanwhile, is also set to lend his talents to this fifth instalment.
As for a release date, that's tentatively been set for June 2025 but is likely to change due to the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
While there are those who have understandably rolled their eyes that Disney is returning to the Toy Story well, it makes sense when you consider the fourth movie earned over $1 billion back in 2019.
In comparison, last year's spin-off Lightyear was considered a box office disappointment, suggesting that moviegoers wish to spend time with the toys and not the people they're based on. It's a shame because Chris Evans was a great Buzz and the movie was a lot of fun, but Toy Story 5 makes more sense than a realistic Woody outing!
After a rough few years of having movies relegated to Disney+ by former Disney CEO Bob Chapek (which significantly hurt the brand), Pixar is no doubt excited to get the chance to prove it can still deliver a mega-hit with a release like Toy Story 5.