Pixar Plans Toy Story 5 Reboot Featuring Jessie As Lead Character

Pixar's upcoming film Toy Story 5, set to release in June 2026, marks a significant reboot of the beloved series with a fresh focus on Jessie rather than Woody or Buzz Lightyear. Buzz Lightyear actor Tim Allen revealed on Jimmy Kimmel Live that Jessie is at the center of the new story, where she faces a challenge that requires reuniting the scattered toys. A humorous subplot involves a crash-landing of a hundred Buzz Lightyear dolls on an island, inspired by the Tom Hanks film Castaway, with Allen contributing improvised lines for the scene. The film also introduces a new antagonist in the form of a frog-shaped tablet named Lilypad, symbolizing the evolving nature of children's interests and the impact of technology on traditional toys. Directed by Andrew Stanton, Toy Story 5 aims to preserve the series' classic spirit while exploring new themes, positioning itself as a potential revitalization for Pixar after mixed recent successes. The movie continues the voices of Tom Hanks (Woody), Joan Cusack (Jessie), and others, promising a blend of nostalgia and innovation for audiences.