For the generation of fans who have grown up with Toy Story over the past three decades, Buzz and Woody are the heart of the franchise. With a new movie set to release this summer, many are eager to see the iconic duo reunited on screen. However, according to writer and director Andrew Stanton, the first draft of Toy Story 5 did not include Woody.
The revelation is now prompting some fans to question how central the cowboy will be to the story if he was added later in development.
Why Woody Was Left Out Of The First Draft
While speaking with CinemaBlend, Andrew Stanton suggested that Woody’s story had already reached its natural conclusion. At the end of Toy Story 4, Woody chose to stay behind with Bo Peep and embrace a new life helping lost toys find owners. It was a bittersweet farewell that many viewers viewed as a definitive ending.
Unlike Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, Rex, and the rest of Bonnie’s toys, Woody was no longer part of the group’s daily adventures. From a storytelling perspective, Pixar had effectively written him out of the main cast.
Woody and Buzz in Toy Story 5 – IMAX, YouTube
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“I do admit that I didn’t know how to bring him back at first, and so I just, because I know it’s going take so many drafts to get the movie right, I just wrote the first one without him just to see if I missed him,” Stanton said. “And, I did.”
Finding A Place For Woody
The challenge then became finding a way to bring Woody back into the world of Toy Story 5. However, Stanton did not want to include the character without a meaningful reason.
Buzz and Woody in Toy Story 5 – IMAX, YouTube
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“So I said, alright, we’re going to have to work a little harder and figure out how to make this not just a knee jerk reaction and make it something that’s earned to make him come in,” he explained. “We finally figured it out and now I can’t imagine it any other way.”
Stanton’s comments suggest that Woody’s return was not part of the film’s original foundation. Instead, he was added later after the creative team determined there was still a meaningful role for him to play.
Is Toy Story 5 Really Jessie’s Story?
While that suggests Woody remains a key character in Toy Story 5, early indications are that he will not drive the story. CinemaBlend reports that Jessie the cowgirl will receive significantly more attention than she has in previous installments.
Jesse in Toy Story 5 -IMAX, YouTube
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Woody may instead serve in a supporting role within what is essentially Jessie’s story. Trailers have shown him balding and being asked whether he is “some sort of old man toy.” For some viewers, that may feel like another example of a male protagonist being sidelined to make room for a female lead. The fact that the film was originally written without Woody may add weight to those concerns.
At the same time, Stanton’s comments suggest an awareness that a Toy Story film is not complete without the beloved cowboy. Whether he remains the franchise’s heart or simply becomes a nostalgic supporting player may ultimately determine how audiences respond to his return.
Do you think Woody will have a significant role in Toy Story 5? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
