Summary
Disney andPixar’sannouncement ofToy Story 5didn’t get the universal approval they might have hoped for, but it did get everyone buzzing about Woody’s return. The pull-string cowboy doll’s story seemingly gets good closure with each film, more decisively in the fourth, and yet he’s set to be brought in this fifth installment – arguably a sequel that no one really asked for.
Voiced by Tom Hanks, Woody’s return was imminent after Disney CEO Bob Iger announced sequels forToy Story,Frozen, andZootopiain February 2023.PixarCCO Pete Docter confirmed it later, withWall-Edirector Andrew Stantonleading the project, all set to release on July 05, 2025. InToy Story 5, Woody and the gang confront a different playtime danger: technology, or more informally, today’s “iPad kids.”
Woody’s Return inToy Story 5
As it stands,Toy Story 4ends with Woody embracing his new life as a Lost Toy as he stays behind with his ladylove, Bo Peep. The cowboy said an emotional goodbye to Bonnie’s toys and handed over his sheriff’s badge to Jessie. It also marked the end of animated cinema’s most iconic friendship – the Woody and Buzz Lightyear duo. Or so it seemed until the recent concept art reveal.
Woody’s return inToy Story 5doesn’t sit well, since it seems like he never really left. Atlast month’s D23 Expo, the director revealed the movie’s “toys vs. tech” narrative, with a first-look image virtually confirming Woody had reunited with the gang. While the reason for his return is unclear and mostly for practical purposes, the real question now is how Woody found his way back.
Can Woody Help the Toys Save Playtime?
At the end ofToy Story 4, the rest of the toys return to Bonnie, and now they might face an Andy situation all over again. A grown-up owner means the toys would have to find a new home, and possibly cross paths with Woody along the way. Moreover, the child in theToy Story 5concept artchoosing an iPad-like device over toys could be Bonnie herself. So, the toys could go back to the carnival to seek Woody’s help to get them out of this situation.
The cowboy could turn Messiah not just for his toy friends, but for the bigger quest to save playtime from going extinct in a screen-addicted world. Apart from the “iPad kid” concept, D23 Expo also revealed an image of 50 rogueBuzz Lightyear toys, likely the villains ofToy Story 5. Woody could run into one of these evil Buzzes and mistake it for his old friend. Ultimately, it would lead him back to the real Buzz and get him unwillingly involved in their problems.
What Would Bring Woody Back?
Woody and Bo Peep’s relationship also affects how he gets reintroduced to the gang. Pixar might just take a mature approach and show the couple drifting apart as they want different things in life. The firstToy Storymovie came out in 1995 and the original audience has grown up along the way. A similar theme made Toy Story 3 click, when Andy left his toys and went to college – a universally relatable core memory while growing up. Or, they could just simplify things and write Bo out of the story again with no explanation.
With Disney, there’s always room for a wild retcon to bring back a character. The Woody seen in the concept art could even be a new toy Bonnie buys, just like howToy Story 2featured multiple Buzz Lightyear toys. But this would contradict the same movie, which showed Woody as a rare collectible. Speaking of which, Al from Al’s Toy Barn could return as a villain and attempt to reclaim Woody to make up for his losses. Another alternative villain is an adult, job-going version ofSid from the firstToy Storymovie, who runs into Woody and has his old memories triggered.
Disney Must Protect Woody’s Arc
One thing the writers should most definitely avoid is having Bonnie return the toys to Andy when he comes back from college. A retcon like this would ruin the wholesome,bittersweet ending of Toy Story 3. A better option would be a subtle nod to Andy towards the end, perhaps letting him gift the toys to his own children in the future, though even that might be a stretch.
EachToy Storymovie has always been about what Woody realizes in the end – whether it’s accepting that he’s no longer Andy’s favorite toy, realizing toys are meant for play and not display, or letting go of their owners to choose their own path. Disney and Pixar have to tread carefully with his character development here. Bringing backSheriff WoodyforToy Story 5might seem important, but it shouldn’t undo his older, heartfelt cathartic moments.
