One of many characters newer to the landmark animated franchise will likely be returning for Toy Story 5, as beforehand speculated and lately confirmed by the voice actor. Toy Story seemingly ended with each the third and fourth installments, however the franchise hasn’t seen a nasty film but, and a brand new story has taken form, which can launch in theaters on June 19, 2026.

Toy Story 5’s solid is anticipated to as soon as once more embrace Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, and Joan Cusack as Jessie, alongside different actors who’ve voiced these characters throughout the sequence. It was additionally beforehand introduced that Conan O’Brien could be enjoying a brand new Toy Story character, although particulars about this character are scarce.

In the meantime, whereas selling his new film Sketch on The Discourse podcast, Tony Hale confirmed that his character Forky will likely be returning for Toy Story 5. Forky was launched within the earlier installment, having been made by a bit of lady out of a plastic spork and craft provides and rapidly gaining sentience when alone with the opposite toys.

Confirming that he’s a part of the solid of the fifth Toy Story, Hale advised The Discourse: “I recorded it a month ago […] It’s going to be really special.”

What Forky’s Return Means For Toy Story 5

Toy Story’s spectacular solid simply retains getting greater and greater, leaving us not sure how the writers will handle so many characters in a single film, particularly when they’re all voiced by considerably well-known and proficient individuals. Nonetheless, based mostly on the Toy Story 3 to Toy Story 4 transition, a number of the Toy Story 4 characters will seemingly not be retained.

It is sensible to maintain Forky; After we final noticed him, he was nonetheless residing in Bonnie’s room with lots of the different important characters. Forky additionally catalyzes the story in Toy Story 4 and prompts vital reflection and growth among the many others, whereas present process his personal transformation, and it’ll doubtlessly add to the narrative to additional this arc within the subsequent film.

Our Take On Forky’s Return In Toy Story 5

Woody And Forky In Toy Story 4 I Can't Let You Throw Yourself Away.jpg

Forky’s introduction in Toy Story 4 is a bit existentially fraught, because it nods to unanswered questions on how the toys are “born” and what objects are in a position to attain sentience on this world, although the story isn’t too involved with this. Although with Toy Story 5 reportedly delving into the toys’ relationship with fashionable digital types of leisure, Forky’s backstory could possibly be a boon.

Regarding Toy Story 5’s quest to be unique, I feel it could be extraordinarily entertaining if the following film began to play with the philosophical implications. After all, this can seemingly nonetheless be accompanied by themes of how childhood is impacted by computer systems — and Forky himself represented the surprise of youngsters’s creativeness within the final film.

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Toy Story 5

Launch Date

June 19, 2026

Director

Andrew Stanton

Writers

Andrew Stanton

Headshot Of Tom Hanks In The Los Angeles World Premiere Of Apple TV+ Series 'Masters Of The Air'

Headshot Of Tim Allen

Tim Allen

Buzz Lightyear (voice)

Headshot Of Joan Cusack

Joan Cusack

Jessie (voice)

Headshot Of Ernie Hudson