Tim Allen is ready to don his space ranger gear once again as he steps back into the iconic role of Buzz Lightyear for Toy Story 5. The beloved actor recently teased exciting details about the upcoming Pixar sequel, praising the project for its inventive and heartfelt narrative.
In a conversation with Collider, Allen expressed his enthusiasm for the fifth installment of the franchise. “It’s an incredibly clever story,” he shared. “Do you really want to do five of these movies? It’s not about the money. Of course, they hope it succeeds, but that’s not the driving force. If the script wasn’t brilliant, they wouldn’t have moved forward, and they certainly wouldn’t have brought Tom [Hanks] and me back.”
Allen revealed he recently began voice work for the film, immersing himself once again in the world of Buzz Lightyear. “I just finished my first five-hour session for Buzz about a week ago,” he said. “It feels really strange to step back into the character after so long.”
Reflecting on the franchise’s legacy, the 71-year-old actor admitted it was hard to pick a favorite, though two entries stand out. “There’s nothing quite like Toy Story 1—that experience was unforgettable. But if I had to choose, I’d say Toy Story 3 was remarkable.”
Toy Story 5 will see Andrew Stanton, a veteran of the series, returning to helm the project as writer and director, alongside co-director McKenna Harris. Jessica Choi serves as the film’s producer. The official synopsis hints at a unique twist: “This time, it’s Toy meets Tech. Buzz, Woody, Jessie, and the rest of the gang face an all-new high-tech threat that changes playtime forever.”
Allen also addressed the Lightyear spin-off controversy, where Chris Evans voiced the titular character in the 2022 stand-alone film. “That project had nothing to do with the original films,” Allen previously remarked. “I stayed out of it because it wasn’t connected to the Buzz we know. It had a great story, but it wasn’t the same toy.”
While gearing up for Buzz’s return, Allen is also preparing to hit the small screen with his new ABC sitcom Shifting Gears. The series follows a car restoration shop owner, played by Allen, as he reconnects with his estranged daughter (Kat Dennings) and grandchildren.
Toy Story 5 is set to hit theaters on June 19, 2026, promising a fresh adventure for audiences old and new.