The “Toy Story” franchise is back, and this time, the toys are going head-to-head with Big Tech.
The background: Disney and Pixar released a new full-length trailer Thursday for “Toy Story 5,” with the likes of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack all returning for the fifth iteration of the beloved films. It’s been seven years since “Toy Story 4″ came out.
What happens in the trailer: The toys take on a new challenge with the arrival of Lilypad, a new character voiced by Greta Lee. Lilypad is an electronic tablet that appears to enthrall and captivate the toys’ owner Bonnie, in a way that only technology can.
- Buzz Lightyear and Jessie enlist the help of Woody, who returns to the house to help with the new challenge.
- “Toys are for play, but tech is for ... everything,” Woody says. “I’m losing Bonnie to this device,” Jessie responds.
- The toys seek backup help with other toys to battle the appeal of electronics.
- It ends with Mr. Potato Head saying, “It’s good to see them fighting again,” referring to Buzz and Woody’s storied rivalry. “It sure is,” Slinky Dog responds.
What we know about the movie: The movie will arrive in theaters June 19.
- The movie is written and directed by Andrew Stanton, and it is co-directed by Kenna Harris, according to a Pixar press release.
- Stanton “has described the film less as a traditional good-versus-evil showdown and more as an existential reckoning for toys facing obsolescence. Rather than positioning technology simply as an antagonist, the film aims to explore how digital devices have reshaped childhood and what that inevitable shift will mean,” Variety reported.
Here are the new additions to the cast, according to People Magazine:
- Conan O’Brien joins the cast as a “toilet-training tech toy Smarty Pants.”
- Craig Robinson will play the GPS hippo Atlas.
- Shelby Rabara will be the camera toy Snappy.
- Scarlett Spears plays Bonnie.
- Mykal-Michelle Haris joins as Blaze.
- Matty Matheson will play the neurotic tech-fearing toy Dr. Nutcase.
- And of course, Lee joins the cast as the tablet antagonist Lilypad.