Tom Hanks is known for many things, such as his Oscar-winning performances in “Philadelphia” and “Forrest Gump.” However, his role as Sheriff Woody in the “Toy Story” franchise has stayed with the 69-year-old for over 15 years. During a new interview, the esteemed actor spoke about the franchise’s upcoming fifth installment and expressed his gratitude for still being part of the box-office juggernaut all these years later.
Speaking with PEOPLE about “Toy Story 5” on Monday, May 18, in New York City, Hanks gushed about the upcoming sequel. “Oh my Lord, all I can say is the saga continues,” he said.
The original “Toy Story” hit theatres in November 1995, featuring Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, John Ratzenberger, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, and Jim Varney. The film grossed $401.2 million against a $30 million budget.
Over the years, the roster of talented actors has returned for additional films in 1999, 2010, 2019, and will be featured in the latest film, debuting in June 2026.
While Hanks can’t spill the beans about the film just yet, the father of four hinted that fans would be pleased with the final product.
“I have seen it. I don’t know how they do it, but it is a vibrant and proper chapter in the Toy Story canon,” he said. “None of us can believe that we’re still a part of it.”
What Can Fans Expect From Tom Hanks And The Rest Of The ‘Toy Story’ Gang In The Upcoming Film?
The upcoming installment was directed by Andrew Stanton, and at the Disney D23 expo in August 2024, he said that the beloved crew of children’s toys will face an unexpected issue in the new film: technology.
“In Toy Story 5 the toys’ jobs get exponentially harder when our toy crew goes head to head with what kids are obsessed with today: electronics,” he said.
According to the movie’s synopsis, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and the others will work to overcome obstacles when a new tablet, Lilypad, captures Bonnie’s (their owner) attention.
In a separate interview, Allen shared a few behind-the-scenes details about the film, hinting that much of the story would center on Jessie. He also teased an “unbelievable” opening scene as Buzz Lightyear before encouraging fans to go see the film.
“I can give you that, but I can’t give you much more,” he said.
Tom Hanks’ Brother, Jim Hanks, Has Stepped In For Him As Woody In The Past
“Toy Story 5” will hopefully feature more iconic lines from the admired fictional characters, such as Woody’s “There’s a snake in my boot” and “You’re my favorite deputy.”
And speaking of catchphrases, Tom Hanks’ brother, Jim Hanks, previously revealed on the “Love It Film” podcast that he’s actually stepped in for his brother as Woody on numerous occasions.
“The first thing I ever did was one of the pull-string toys from the first movie where he’s saying ‘You’re my favorite deputy’ and ‘There’s a snake in my boot’ and stuff like that,” Jim said. “They had processed the voice so much that they needed a cleaner [version] so I come in and do it.”
Like his brother, Jim also expressed his gratitude to the Pixar team for allowing him to stamp his name in movie history, before noting that while they’re two separate people, he always tries to stay “as true to the character as possible.”
Another Actor Opened Up About His Role In An Iconic Franchise
On the topic of iconic children’s movies, another actor recently opened up about his experience as the lead character in a well-known franchise.
According to a previous report from The Blast, Mike Myers said he almost turned down the role of Shrek in the 2001 film.
Myers explained during a recent interview that he was approached by Jeffrey Katzenberg with an idea at the premiere of “Saving Private Ryan.”
He said that the film executive’s children performed a dance from the “Austin Powers” movie, which took him by surprise.
“This was after such a heavy movie, and I was in tears because my parents were in World War II. I was shell-shocked, and then they’re doing the dance, and I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s great. Read a room!’” he said.
Myers then said that Katzenberg explained his idea of “Shrek” to him, to which he replied, “Well, that’s the worst f–king title I’ve ever heard in my life.”
After some time, though, Myers changed his tune, explaining that he loved how the film “turned fairy tales on its head.”
‘Shrek 5’ Is On Its Way
Like “Toy Story,” a fifth installment in the “Shrek” series is on the way. According to PEOPLE, fans can expect to see the movie in theatres in June 2027, with the return of Myers as Shrek, Eddie Murphy as Donkey, and Cameron Diaz as Fiona. Per reports, Zendaya also joined the cast as Fiona’s daughter, Felicia.
