Woody and Buzz reunite in 'Toy Story 5' trailer, raising fan questions
The first trailer for Disney’s Toy Story 5 shows the return of Woody and Buzz, but fans are confused about Woody’s presence after he left the group in the previous film. The plot centers on the toys panicking after their owner, Bonnie, receives a new "Lilypad" tablet. Pixar and actor Tim Allen have hinted that Woody is "called back to help" Jessie, who gets the gang back together for a new adventure. The film is set to release on June 19, 2026.
"Reach for the sky!" Woody and Buzz are back together again—and fans have some serious questions.
Disney dropped the first trailer for Toy Story 5, the highly anticipated animated sequel, on November 11. The short teaser centers on Bonnie, who became the toys' owner at the end of Toy Story 3. She receives a new tablet called Lilypad at the end of the trailer, sparking panic among the gang as they grow concerned that she will stop playing with them.
The footage teases the return of all the major toy characters from previous installments, ending with a shot of Buzz and Woody together. However, fans were thrown off to see Woody present in the scene, given the way Toy Story 4 ended in 2019, when Woody decided to leave the group and go off to live with Bo Peep. In that film's final scene, Woody and Buzz bid each other an emotional farewell, and the rest of the toys headed back to Bonnie's house without him.
"You better explain why Woody is back, Pixar," read one top YouTube comment, which garnered over 23,000 likes. Many other fans joked online that the premise of Toy Story 5 appeared to be walking back the definitive ending of its predecessor. "Gotta love Woody just randomly being back," another comment read. "No explanation, he's just here."
Woody's Return Explained
Pixar has previously indicated that the reason for Woody's return will be addressed in the film. The studio's chief creative officer, Pete Docter, said during a presentation earlier this year that Woody is "called back to help" in Toy Story 5 after the toys find themselves at odds with Bonnie's new Lilypad tablet. Docter noted that Woody set out "for a life of adventure" at the end of Toy Story 4 and that "It's been a while since they've all seen each other."
Tim Allen, the voice of Buzz Lightyear, also recently teased that Jessie (voiced by Joan Cusack) is the one who gets the gang back together again. Speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in October, Allen said, "It's all about Jessie, which is really cool. She's in trouble, and she needs help. We're all over, so she has to gather everybody." This implies Woody is still off with Bo Peep when the film begins.
Fans were confused that Woody is already back with his friends when Bonnie gets her tablet in the trailer, a scene that would presumably take place early in the movie. However, it is possible this scene was created solely for marketing purposes to confirm Woody's involvement, and may not reflect the actual film's narrative. The teaser for Toy Story 4 also consisted entirely of footage that was not included in the finished movie.
Toy Story 5 will hit theaters on June 19, 2026. In addition to returning stars Allen and Tom Hanks, the film will also feature Greta Lee as the voice of Lilypad and Conan O'Brien as a training tech toy named Smarty Pants.
