Conan O’Brien Joins Cast of Pixar's 'Toy Story 5'
Pixar has cast comedian and former late-night host Conan O’Brien as the voice of a new character in the upcoming film “Toy Story 5.” The addition is a high-profile move for the flagship animated franchise, continuing its practice of incorporating major celebrity talent.
"Toy Story 5" is officially slated for a theatrical release on June 19, 2026. The film will be directed by Andrew Stanton, a key creative force at Pixar since 1990. Stanton previously directed the Oscar-winning features "Finding Nemo" and "WALL-E" and co-wrote all four previous "Toy Story" films. The plot will reportedly center on the toys confronting a new challenge: technology vying for children's attention. This "toy meets tech" theme introduces a new antagonist in the form of a tablet device named Lillypad. O'Brien's character, "Smarty Pants," has been revealed to be a toilet training toy. The returning voice cast includes Tom Hanks as Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear. Actor Tim Allen has suggested the story will feature a significant arc for Jessie, voiced by Joan Cusack, who finds herself in trouble and needing to rally the other toys for help. This installment follows the massive commercial success of "Toy Story 4" in 2019, which grossed over $1.07 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film in the franchise. The film also won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Conan O'Brien is no stranger to the world of animation, having previously lent his voice to characters in "The Lego Batman Movie" as The Riddler and "The Mitchells vs. The Machines." His history with animation also includes writing and producing for "The Simpsons" from 1991 to 1993.
