Tom Hanks is promising that 'Toy Story 5' will hit audiences harder than they might expect. The Oscar-winning actor, who returns as the voice of Woody in the upcoming film, gathered alongside co-stars Tim Allen and Joan Cusack, as well as newcomer Greta Lee, at the 'Toy Story 5' UK launch event in central London on Thursday. The cast came together ahead of the film's theatrical release on June 19, with Hanks leaving little doubt that the new installment carries more emotional weight than many might anticipate.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the event, Hanks teased one particular scene that left a lasting impression on him, describing it as the most heartbreaking moment he has encountered across the entire franchise.
What Tom Hanks said about the heartbreaking scene
"These movies, they end up speaking to and puts in words stuff that everybody is thinking anyway," he said about the franchise tackling the subject of technology and screen time. "There's one of the most heartbreaking scenes I've ever seen in any of the 'Toy Story' movies, when that little girl is getting her feelings hurt by what other people are texting about her, and she doesn't understand why. She doesn't know what she did wrong, but it hurts, and that is a very prescient thing to have in a motion picture today about little kids and toys."
He also reflected on what still surprises him about being part of the franchise after all these years. "They always take me to some other emotional place that I'm both happy to go and mad that they're going to make me do this," he joked. Commenting on a scene featuring 500 Buzz Lightyears emerging from water, he added, "I just said, 'Oh, Tim's gonna have a field day on this. Thank goodness he has to voice 500 of these things, and I don't.'"
What Tim Allen said about the new film
Allen was equally enthusiastic about what audiences will see from Buzz in the new installment. "There's a lot of Buzz in this, a lot of different Buzzes. They've opened up what he is and what makes him special. I think the word you're looking for is Space Ranger," he said with a smile.
He also praised the film's decision to tackle technology head-on. "I'm really impressed they came up with an idea that they actually do. They're a tech company and they're attacking their own, looking at themselves and where they fit in. There's a couple big scenes in this movie that got so silent in our preview, and everybody said, 'This is where we're heading.'" He added, "You can't make people play again, but you can show them that the engagement with toys and engagement with your life and your friends is a little more satisfying than being on your device."
What director Andrew Stanton said about the story
Director Andrew Stanton revealed that the core ideas for the film came together quite naturally when he sat down to write. "One of the first things that came to mind was I knew I wanted it to be about Jessie, I knew that devices were sticking around for years with kids, they weren't going away after the pandemic, and I knew 50 Buzzes made me laugh. So I started out with those ingredients from the grocery store."
When asked about the possibility of 'Toy Story 6' or 'Toy Story 7', Stanton kept his answer open. "I put it all on the screen every time I work on any movie, but it always surprises me. Because of the 'Toy Story' movies, they embrace time. We let life go forward, and you don't know what your perspective is going to be four years from now, five years from now, and that's suddenly material."
What Greta Lee said about her character Lily Pad
Newcomer Greta Lee, who voices the antagonist Lily Pad, offered a brief but intriguing tease of her character. "Lily, simply put, is a new toy. She's a device. She's green. She's got little arms. She has great intentions but maybe not always the best execution," she said. When asked about her favorite film in the franchise, Lee did not hesitate. "I'm gonna say 'Toy Story 3'. Don't tell Andrew!"
'Toy Story 5' arrives in theaters on June 19.
