Ernie Hudson Joins Toy Story 5 in Recast Role

Pixar’s Toy Story 5 has added the esteemed Ernie Hudson to its voice cast.

Per Deadline, the former Ghostbuster will portray Combat Carl, previously voiced by the Carl Weathers in Toy Story 4 and the franchise’s Halloween TV special in 2013. He joins series mainstays Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, returning as Woody and Buzz Lightyear respectively, and Anna Faris, cast in an undisclosed role in January. In the past, Hudson’s lent his voice talents to Batman: Bad Blood, Infinity Train, Transformers Prime, and Star Wars: The Bad Batch.

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Specifics on the sequel’s plot have mostly been kept close to the chest, and Disney’s yet to release so much as a teaser to the public. What is known is that the toys will go up against an army of Buzz Lightyears (Buzzes Lightyear?) at some point in the film—and more broadly, will explore the theme of technology replacing toys’ function to kids. More recently, Allen teased the movie would feature cowgirl Jessie (Joan Cusack) in a big way. He also indicated Buzz and Woody would “realign” after the latter went off with Bo Peep to help prize toys find owners.

Toy Story 5 arrives in theaters June 19, 2026.

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