Is Disney pulling another lead character gender shuffle? According to Tim Allen, Toy Story 5 is taking a surprising new direction — one that puts Jessie, the cowgirl rag doll introduced in Toy Story 2, front and center.
Allen, who has voiced Buzz Lightyear since 1995, is currently on tour promoting his live comedy shows. But in a recent interview with WIVB, the longtime Toy Story star gave fans a glimpse into what they can expect from the upcoming fifth installment — and the details may raise a few eyebrows.
Tim Allen voices Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story (1995), Pixar
“I can tell you that it’s a lot about Jessie,” Allen said. “Tom [Hanks] and I do — Woody and I — do realign. And there’s an unbelievable opening scene with Buzz Lightyear. I can give you that, but I can’t give you much more.”
The comment has sparked speculation across fan circles, especially in light of Disney’s recent trend of shifting longtime male-led franchises toward new female leads, often changing the tone or direction of beloved classics. With Allen’s statement that Toy Story 5 heavily centers on Jessie, some are wondering if this is yet another example of reworking a familiar series to highlight a new face — even when that character has been part of the ensemble for decades.
Tim Allen voices Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story (1995), Pixar
Jessie, voiced by Joan Cusack, first appeared in 1999 and quickly became a fan favorite. But until now, she’s played more of a supporting role to the Woody-Buzz dynamic that has anchored the franchise from the start.
The bigger question on fans’ minds: Will this shift feel natural — or forced?
Jessie in Toy Story 2 – Disney+
This isn’t the first time Allen has spoken positively about the upcoming film. In a separate interview with Collider in late 2024, Allen revealed he had just wrapped a five-hour voice session for Buzz. At the time, he expressed excitement about the story and praised the writing, saying, “Had they not come up with a brilliant script, they wouldn’t have done it and they wouldn’t have called me and Tom.”
“It’s really clever,” Allen continued. “I’m so blessed to be Buzz Lightyear, to be honest. It’s gonna be fun… I’ve gotten up to the third act. We’ll do the third act. And then, we’ll go back and clean it. And then, I’ll do it about five more times.”
Still, despite Allen’s enthusiasm, some longtime fans remain cautious. The film seems poised for several changes that could either breathe new life into the series or leave core audiences scratching their heads.
Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear flies through the sky carrying Tom Hank as Woody in Toy Story (1995), Pixar
Toy Story 5 is scheduled to hit theaters on June 19, 2026. Whether Jessie’s expanded role will resonate with fans — or feel like another effort to reframe a classic story — remains to be seen.
How do you feel about Jessie being the main character in Toy Story 5? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!
Jessie is a great character. If this is well done, it could be great. It’s better than trying to squeeze more directly from Woody and Buzz. That song from TS2 is still haunting.
The entire point of Jessie was to show the audience what TV Show Woody was from, that’s it. She isn’t a bad character, but she is a side character for a reason.
Toy Story ended with 3, there are no more after that…….
Jessie is at least cuter than most females in “modern” movies, I guess. But, she’s not a character that interests me enough to see her more than just a small supporting role. In fact, she would quickly get grating!
In general, female-led stories are less appealing to BOTH sexes. It’s a reason why Actresses get paid less. (Marketing).
Personally think they should have stopped at Toy Story 3 which had a perfect ending for the franchise.
I didn’t see Toy Story 4 and I won’t see this abomination either.
They should have stopped at 3.