TOY STORY 5 Tackles Major Issue That Plagues Kids Today
By Movieguide® Contributor
Writer and director Andrew Stanton revealed that the fifth TOY STORY movie will follow the characters’ struggle to remain relevant in the modern world.
“[Through these characters] we’ve all learned about loyalty and belonging and friendship. These characters have given us a unique perspective on growing up and navigating life and in all the TOY STORY films, above all else, the job of the toys has been to be there for their kids,” Stanton told an audience during Disney’s D23 conference.
“With TOY STORY 5, the toys’ jobs get exponentially harder when our toy crew foes head-to-head with what kids are obsessed with today: Electronics,” he added.
The teaser art revealed during the announcement showed the silhouette of a child under a blanket lit up by a tablet as Buzz, Woody and the gang peek over the foot of the bed with concern.
Disney CEO Bob Iger first announced work on the movie in February 2023, though he gave no insight into the plot during that time. Shortly after, Tim Allen confirmed he had been contacted to reprise his role as Buzz Lightyear, though he was uncertain if he would accept, voicing his concerns about further extending the franchise.
“[I wondered] if four was too many. Is five going to be too much?” Allen told THE TONIGHT SHOW in 2023. “The writer that’s doing [the fifth movie] wrote one of the better ones and said ‘If I didn’t get this right, I wouldn’t do it.’ It could be a very, very interesting way to reunite.”
The update on TOY STORY 5 was just one of many exciting reveals during this year’s D23 conference. Disney also shared new info about FROZEN III, ZOOTOPIA 2 and an upcoming LILO & STICH live-action remake.
TOY STORY 5 is set to release on June 19, 2026.
Movieguide® previously reported:
Will TOY STORY 5 keep the uplifting Christian moral story and family-friendly nature of previous movies, or will it follow the poor example of the spin-off movie LIGHTYEAR?
The movies in the TOY STORY franchise have previously been honored with Movieguide® Awards. Each of them received high praise for their strong moral messages and their family-friendly nature. They all had strongly Biblical and Christian messaging.
“TOY STORY shows that friendship and forgiveness triumphs over jealousy, envy and adversity,” Movieguide® Publisher Dr. Ted Baehr said of the first iteration.
Pixar’s Lucy Lalaverde said, “Working on TOY STORY 3 was a definitely a unique experience. We all knew we were making something special and something that would make our moms cry really hard.”
“Listen, we take great pride in the fact that we get to make family films,” said TOY STORY 4 producer Jonas Rivera. “TOY STORY 4 is really a love letter to our families. This is for our parents, this is for our wives, this is for our kids. We love you.”
