Toy Story enthusiasts are puzzled after viewing the trailer for the franchise’s upcoming fifth installment.
Slated for a summer release next year, the new film centers on eight-year-old Bonnie, who appears to neglect her cherished toys in favor of a green tablet named Lilypad, voiced by Greta Lee from The Morning Show.
While some fans eagerly anticipate the continuation of this beloved Pixar series, not everyone shares the enthusiasm, with some criticizing the sequel as ‘unnecessary’.
The teaser, lasting 49 seconds and released on YouTube on Tuesday (November 11), highlights a significant plot inconsistency that viewers are quick to address.
The clip depicts a package arriving for Bonnie, causing the toys – including Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack), and Forky (Tony Hale) – to tremble with fear.
Returning to the scene is fan-favorite cowboy Woody (Tom Hanks), whose presence is unexpected.
In the 2019 film Toy Story 4, Woody shared an emotional goodbye with his fellow toys, choosing to become a ‘lost toy’ at a carnival with Bo Peep.
Yet, without any explanation, he reappears in Toy Story 5, leaving fans seeking clarity.
In response to the trailer, one viewer insisted: “You better explain why Woody is back, Pixar,” while another questioned: “Didn’t Woody literally leave?”
The conversation extended to Reddit, where a user proposed a theory about Woody’s return.
“The theory that I’ve seen floating around is that the fair where Woody stayed with Bo is actually a traveling carnival, and it just happens to pass through Andy/Bonnie’s hometown, providing a logical reason for Woody’s return without disrupting continuity,” they shared.
“He became a wild toy, which means he can come and go at will. He’s probably just visiting or something,” another fan speculated.
Some fans remained uninterested in Toy Story 5, with one individual stating: “Yeah, IMMEDIATE pass for me. You ended it perfectly with 3, 4 wasn’t needed, and now you’re doing 5? Absolutely not.”
On X, reactions were similarly confused, though slightly more open to the idea.
“I’m not sold on Toy Story 5 because I believe this movie is totally unnecessary and shouldn’t exist, but I’m willing to give it a chance,” one fan confessed.
Another person questioned Woody’s presence: “You were supposed to be at the fair with Bo… Why are you here?”
While pondering Pixar’s decisions, they added: “I’ll give it a chance, I guess.”
Toy Story 5 is scheduled to premiere in theaters on July 19, 2026. Meanwhile, the previous four films are available for streaming on Disney+.