Summary

Joan Cusack is set to reprise Jessie in Toy Story 5, a movie that fans have eagerly awaited.
Jessie is expected to have a significant role in the upcoming film, according to insider hints at the plot.
Toy Story 5 will mix beloved characters with modern elements when it hits theaters on June 19th, 2026.

Toy Story 5 is one of the most highly anticipated upcoming Pixar movies, and now a beloved cast member's return has been confirmed.

Toy Story was released in 1995 and quickly became a benchmark for animated storytelling. The inagural Pixar movie introduced kids, along with audiences of all ages, to friendly and likeable toys such as Woody (Tom Hanks) and their owner Andy Morris (John Morris). The popular franchise has funny quotes, charming storylines, and a cheerful tone. A few years after Toy Story 4 came out in 2019, the fifth film was announced in 2023, so it's been a long wait. Since fans had hoped that familiar characters would be the focus of Toy Story 5, this latest casting news is exciting.

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By Matthew Wilkinson

Joan Cuasck Is Playing Jessie Again In Toy Story 5 (And Fans Hoped She Would Be Given The Spotlight)

According to Variety, Pete Docter, the CCO of DisneyPixar, announced at the Annecy Animation Festival in France that Joan Cusack will reprise her beloved role of Jessie in Toy Story 5. He also shared that Tim Allen and Tom Hanks will be back as Buzz Lightyear and Woody.

This news comes a few months after, in April 2025, Allen told WIVB that Jessie would be given a prominent storyline in Toy Story 5. While he didn't say exactly what she would be doing, it was still great news. Allen said:

“I can tell you that it’s a lot about Jessie. Tom [Hanks] and I do — Woody and I — do realign. And there’s an unbelievable opening scene with Buzz Light years. I can give you that, but I can’t give you much more.”

For a few years now, audiences have wondered which characters could come back for the fifth movie, and for many, Jessie was at the top of their list. Fans were glad to Allen's comments and discussed their thoughts on Reddit. Redditor @CinephileCrystal wrote:

"I'm so happy about this because it did feel like Jessie got sidelined in the last movie."

Redditor @Cjgraham3589 added, "Good, I thought she’d end up being a co-lead after Toy Story 2 and she wasn’t." Redditor @mvallas1073 said Jessie is "my fave character."

Docter previously said that Toy Story 5 would feature some shifts to "keep people surprised," and it sounds like Jessie will be more of a major character than she was in past movies. The cowgirl toy was first introduced in Toy Story 2 and is likable and confident. It's heartwarming watching Jessie and Woody's friendship, which is one reason why it's interesting to hear that Jessie will have a notable part in the upcoming sequel.

Docter's Annecy presentation also included the opening scene of Toy Story 5 and a brief description of the storyline. Docter called it "Toy meets Tech" and mentioned that the plot will revolve around Buzz, Woody, and Jessie who are dealing with their 8-year-old owner Bonnie Anderson and Lilypad, a tablet that makes things complicated. This is a more relevant and contemporary storyline and sounds compelling.

Toy Story 5 will be released on June 19th, 2026 and will feature new cast members Conan O'Brien as Smarty Pants, Ernie Hudson as Combat Carl, and Anna Faris as an unknown character. Franchise writer Andrew Stanton is back, and this time, he's directing as well. From the first couple of minutes that were shared at Annecy, Toy Story 5 looks as fun and heatwarming as the entire franchise, but it promises some new elements, too.

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