Disneyseemed to have giventhe Toy Story series the perfect ending with Toy Story 3. It brought the cast back together in a meaningful way, offered them a suitable send-off, reminded us all why we cared so much about the movies in the first place, and underlined the importance of letting go of the past so the new generation can thrive.
Boy howdy, was it ever perfect. However, it also made a lot of money, so they decided to make a fourth. Why not, eh? This one also made a lot of money,so they decided to make a fifth. It feels unnecessary, but hey, it’s Toy Story. We’ll probably all go to see it anyway. And we all just took a major step towards that as star Tom Hanks revealed he’s back in the studio to bring the iconic cowboy Woody to life.
Toy Story 5 Is Currently Recording
Earlier today, Hanks posted a not-so-cryptic post on Instagram of himself in front of a microphone captioned “First day of work on a certain Story number 5! Need a hint? Disney. Studio B.” It’s unlikely anyone needed a hint, givenwe already knew Toy Story 5 was due out in 2026, but the fact that voice work has begun on the project is nonetheless exciting.
If Toy Story 5 sticks to its date, it will arrive seven years on from Toy Story 4, which is one of the shortest gaps for the series Pixar has gone back to more than any other. Starting in 1995, there were four years between Toy Story and Toy Story 2, but there were nine years between Toy Story 3’s perfect ending and the revival of the series with Toy Story 4 in 2010 and 2019 respectively. Those of you adept at mathematics will have worked out that this means there were 11 years between Toy Story 2 and the would be finale of Toy Story 3.
It’s also by far the most prolific series in Pixar’s stable, with the fifth entry taking it way out in front - and that’s before you factor in any shorts. In fact, it’s the only Disney animated series to have five cinematic releases, though the likes ofMarvelandStar Wars, both acquired by Disney as Pixar was, have enjoyed far more. Cars is the only other Pixar series to get a trilogy, though The Incredibles 3 has been greenlit.
Aside from that, Monsters Inc. and Finding Nemo both got sequels too. It could even be argued that Toy Story 5 is the sixth Toy Story movie when you add Lightyear into the mix, but thenperhaps we’re better off simply forgetting about that one. Either way, with Hanks in the booth it appears Toy Story 5 is on schedule, and maybe this will be a goodbye to rival Toy Story 3.
