Toy Story 5 Offers the Return of Jessie and a Whole Lot More
Joan Cusack will be reprising her role as cowgirl Jessie in Toy Story 5 while a new character named LilyPad is one of the new developments in the series that the upcoming film will showcase.
Academy Award nominee from Working Girl and In & Out, Joan Cusack, will be back on board a tremendously popular animated franchise with her voice-over role in the latest film in the Toy Story series, Toy Story 5, which is set for a release on June 19, 2026. It is said that Jessie will need a little help from her friends in the latest installment of the wildly successful Disney movie series which means she may face some perils in the new entry in our beloved franchise.
LilyPad, a new tablet that the young Bonnie will receive in the forthcoming Toy Story 5, is going to be the baddie here and the ultimate threat to the toys, Woody (voice of Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen) and Jessie, the cowgirl (Cusack) among others. In the new sequel to the beloved Toy Story 4, the focus on the threat that technology poses on old school dolls and toys will be explored as well as the introduction of some other characters, including one called Smarty Pants who is set to be played by Conan O’Brien. Forky (most likely to be voiced by Tony Hale) will also be one of the returning characters. Ernie Hudson will replace Carl Weathers as the voice of Combat Carl in the fifth film in the Toy Story series.
It is a very brave idea for the makers of this franchise to focus on technology since it plays such a pivotal role in the lives of children these days. This new film promises to be a thoughtful exploration of children’s innocence and how it can be affected (in good ways and/or bad) by the latest technological developments, including the invention known as LilyPad in the new picture. There has been no casting yet in terms of selecting the voice for the pivotal role of LilyPad in Toy Story 5.
Toy Story is a franchise that is unafraid of honesty and taking risks. This film series has dealt effectively with Andy (the original child character from the early films in the series)’s growing up and the movies have given the toys reasons to go on and be there for others despite the fact that their original owner grew up. Toy Story 3 also took some brave risks in terms of the way it unveiled the dark nature of some of the scenes towards the end which heightened the emotional relevance of the film’s story line.
Toy Story 5 may pit the original toys against technology and see if the toys can still survive and be beneficial to children despite needs in an ever-changing world. I will venture the film will keep our heroes (Woody, Buzz, Jessie, etc.) relevant and important despite the technical advancements the film will explore. It will certainly be great to hear Cusack’s distinct (and funny) voice as Jessie again as well.
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