Tom Hanks has teased fans with his upcoming movie project after sharing a sneaky behind the scenes photo from the recording studio.
The actor, known from hit films like Saving Private Ryan and A Man Called Otto, has taken to social media to share that he’s in the middle of making his next movie, and it’s got fans preparing themselves for an emotional rollercoaster.
Taking to his personal Instagram page, Tom Hanks shared a photo showing his hand in front of the microphone inside a voice recording studio. At the bottom of the photo, a script is seen laying down in front of him.
“First day of work on a certain Story Number 5! Need a hint? Disney. Studio B,” he wrote in the Instagram caption.
People were quick to put the pieces together that Tom was recording the voice of Woody for the fifth installment of the Toy Story movies, which is due to be released on 19 June 2026. Taking to X, one fan wrote: “Tom Hanks as Woody again? You already know our hearts aren’t safe in 2026.”
“Woody and Buzz going on one more adventure together, this gonna be an even more emotional one,” a second person said.
However, others weren’t as excited about the news as they claimed Pixar should have ended the franchise by now.
“It’s completely unnecessary but I’ll probably still see it,” wrote one fan. Another person said: “I love what you have done Tom, but I think it’s time to move on and let other toys take over…”
“We don’t need this but here we are,” a third person wrote.
The 68-year-old Forrest Gump star has been the voice of Woody since the start of the franchise in 1995, while Tim Allen, 71, voices Buzz Lightyear as the toy characters along with their friends come alive while their humans are not present.
The franchise was originally supposed to be a trilogy, with the third movie ending with Woody and Buzz having been given away to another child after their original owner, Andy, had grown up. However after its raging success, Pixar decided to continue making more movies.
On February 8, 2023, Disney announced that a fifth Toy Story film is in development. While plot information of the fifth installment is kept under wraps, fans got some information at the D23 Expo back in August 2024. Filmmaker Andrew Stanton announced that the new movie will delve into the impact of technology on children’s playtime, as it will explore how toys are being pushed aside in exchange for electronic devices.
“In Toy Story 5, the toys’ jobs get exponentially harder when our toy crew goes head-to-head with what kids are obsessed with today: electronics,” he said at the event, People Magazine reported.