Key Takeaways
Tom Hanks says another Toy Story movie should only happen if the story is fresh and meaningful.
The actor acknowledged Disney could potentially use AI to recreate Woody’s voice without him.
Hanks said decades of recorded Woody dialogue exist on digital media.
Hanks and Tim Allen both described the idea of AI recreating performances as “scary.”
The comments highlight growing concerns across Hollywood about AI, deepfakes, and actor rights.
Tom Hanks Questions Whether Toy Story 6 Should Happen
Tom Hanks is once again part of the Toy Story franchise, but he is already thinking carefully about what should come next.
Following the release of Toy Story 5, which opened with a massive $312 million worldwide debut, speculation has already started about whether Toy Story 6 could eventually happen.
Hanks, who has voiced Woody for more than three decades, told Entertainment Weekly that another sequel should not move forward unless there is a strong creative reason for it.
“If you’re gonna do another Toy Story, it better be worthwhile,” Hanks said.
Why Hanks Says Another Sequel Must Be Worthwhile
For Hanks, the popularity of the Toy Story name is not enough reason to keep the franchise going.
The two-time Oscar winner said any future installment needs to explore a meaningful theme rather than simply continue because audiences recognize the title.
He acknowledged that Toy Story is a major corporate franchise, but he also made it clear that the story has to justify another film.
According to Hanks, a new movie should feel “good, new, fresh” or there is no reason to make it.
That perspective reflects the careful balance many long-running franchises face in Hollywood: serving loyal fans while also avoiding creative repetition.
Could Disney Recreate Woody’s Voice With AI?
Hanks also addressed a more unsettling possibility: Disney may not need him physically present to bring Woody back in the future.
Because Hanks has recorded Woody’s voice for decades, the studio likely has access to a massive archive of dialogue from previous Toy Story projects.
Hanks suggested that, with enough recorded material stored digitally, AI could potentially be used to recreate his voice and generate new lines for Woody.
“Every word we have ever recorded in time in Toy Story is on digital media somewhere,” Hanks said.
He added that the studio could theoretically assemble a version of his voice using that existing material.
Tom Hanks and Tim Allen Call the Idea “Scary”
Hanks is not alone in feeling uneasy about that possibility.
His longtime co-star Tim Allen, who voices Buzz Lightyear, also agreed that the idea is unsettling.
The two actors have helped define the emotional heart of the Toy Story franchise since the first film was released in 1995. Their voices are closely tied to the identity of Woody and Buzz.
That is why the idea of recreating those performances through AI raises complicated questions.
For fans, Woody’s voice is inseparable from Hanks. For actors, the issue is even bigger: who controls a performance once decades of voice recordings can be used to build new ones?
Why AI Has Been on Hanks’ Mind for Years
Hanks has spoken before about how artificial intelligence and deepfake technology could change acting.
During a 2023 appearance on The Adam Buxton Podcast, he discussed how technology could allow actors’ images, voices, and performances to continue long after they are no longer physically involved.
He pointed to The Polar Express, the 2004 Robert Zemeckis film that used motion-capture technology, as an early example of actors’ likenesses being stored and transformed digitally.
Hanks said that technology has grown dramatically since then.
According to the actor, AI and deepfake tools now make it possible for performers to be recreated at different ages or even appear in future projects without being present.
The Legal and Creative Questions Facing Hollywood
Hanks said the issue is not only artistic. It is also legal.
AI-generated performances raise questions about consent, ownership, compensation, and creative control. If a studio has access to an actor’s voice or likeness, who decides how that material can be used?
These questions have become increasingly important across the entertainment industry as studios, actors, writers, and unions continue to debate the future of AI in film and television.
For performers, the concern is not just about technology replacing work. It is about protecting identity, performance, and artistic contribution.
Hanks’ comments show why many actors want clearer boundaries around how AI can be used.
Why Woody’s Future Raises Bigger Questions for Actors
The future of Woody may be part of a beloved animated franchise, but the questions surrounding the character go far beyond Toy Story.
Hanks’ comments reflect one of the biggest debates happening in Hollywood today: how to use new technology without taking control away from performers.
If AI can recreate an actor’s voice, likeness, or performance, the industry will need stronger rules to protect consent and creative ownership.
For now, Hanks is back as Woody in Toy Story 5, but his warning makes one thing clear: the future of acting may depend as much on legal protections as creative talent.
