The internet is convinced that Taylor Swift has something to do with 'Toy Story 5', and the evidence continues to mount. Just days after the film's creators attempted to quell speculation about a possible Swift connection, they posted an Instagram reel directly linking the singer to the fifth installment of the beloved franchise, sending fans into a frenzy once again.
The post featured fan-favorite cowgirl Jessie dancing to Swift's 'Shake It Off', with a caption referencing one of the singer's biggest hits: "She's making those moves up as she goes." The timing of the post, coming just two days after the film's director addressed the rumors, only added fuel to the fire.
What 'Toy Story 5' Director Andrew Stanton Said About the Taylor Swift Rumors
During a recent interview, director Andrew Stanton, along with co-director McKenna Harris and producer Lindsey Collins, was asked about fan speculation linking Swift to the film. "It surprised us. What a freakin' honor," Stanton said of the online theories. Collins added, "It would be pretty amazing."
Stanton did push back on one specific theory, however, confirming that Swift was not performing the film's ending song. "The sad truth is we watched the movie being mixed last week, and the song on the end was not Taylor Swift," he said. Notably, Stanton addressed only the ending song theory and did not comment on broader speculation about a potential collaboration elsewhere in the film.
The 'TS' Billboards and the Website Glitch That Started It All
Exactly one month before the billboard sightings, on April 30, Swift's website briefly displayed a countdown featuring 'Toy Story'-style clouds and a yellow countdown clock pointing to May 2. The countdown remained live for roughly 10 minutes before disappearing entirely, and no announcement ever materialized. Swift's team did not respond to requests for comment.
Then on May 29, Swifties spotted billboards in Chicago, London, and Dallas featuring the franchise's signature blue-sky backdrop and the letters "TS", initials shared by both Taylor Swift and 'Toy Story'. The billboards also featured 13 white clouds in the background, a number long associated with Swift, which only deepened the speculation.
Taylor Swift's History of Collaborating on Film Projects
Although any involvement between Swift and 'Toy Story 5' has not been officially confirmed, a film collaboration would fit neatly into the singer's existing relationship with the franchise's home platform. The streaming service has served as the home for 'Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor's Version)', 'Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour: The Final Show' and 'Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions'. She also partnered on a six-part Eras Tour docuseries featuring behind-the-scenes footage, rehearsals, and interviews with Swift, her mother Andrea Swift, and fiancé Travis Kelce.
A 'Toy Story 5' tie-in would also continue a long tradition of Swift contributing to major Hollywood projects. Over the years, she recorded 'Crazier' for 'Hannah Montana: The Movie', 'Today Was a Fairytale' for 'Valentine's Day', 'Safe and Sound' and 'Eyes Open' for 'The Hunger Games', 'I Don't Wanna Live Forever' for 'Fifty Shades Darker', 'Beautiful Ghosts' for 'Cats', and 'Carolina' for 'Where the Crawdads Sing'.
With 'Toy Story 5' set for release later this year, fans will not have to wait long to find out whether the theories were right all along.
