The First Toy Story 5 Draft Was Written Without Woody

By The Backlot

@backlotfriends

Jessie, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Bullseye crowd next to the Lilypad tablet device in a bedroom in Toy Story 5 (2026)

Toy Story 4 was supposed to be Woody's goodbye. Andrew Stanton knew it, Tom Hanks knew it, everyone knew it.

When Stanton started working on a fifth film, he didn't know how to bring Woody back without it feeling forced. So he just didn't. He wrote the entire first draft without Woody at all, to find out whether he actually missed him.

He did. So they went back and figured out how to earn it. The answer was Jessie calling Woody for help because Bonnie has become obsessed with a tablet device called the Lilypad and the old gang doesn't know what to do.

That's a completely different reason for a sequel to exist. Not what adventure comes next, but what happens to the friends you already said goodbye to.

People on Backlot are watching this one right now. Knowing that extra draft without Woody makes the reunion land differently.

Quick Facts

The First Toy Story 5 Draft Was Written Without Woody

DirectorAndrew Stanton

CastTom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Greta Lee, Conan O'Brien

GenreAnimation, Family, Comedy, Adventure

Release2026-06-17

Runtime102 min

Rated7.4/10

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The director wrote the entire first draft of Toy Story 5 without Woody, just to see if he missed him. He did. #ToyStory5 #Backlot

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Andrew Stanton wrote the entire first Toy Story 5 draft without Woody, just to see if he missed him. He did. That's how the return got earned.

Toy Story 4 was supposed to be Woody's goodbye. Andrew Stanton knew it, Tom Hanks knew it, everyone knew it.

That's a completely different reason for a sequel to exist. Not what adventure comes next, but what happens to the friends you already said goodbye to.

People on Backlot are watching this one right now. Knowing that extra draft without Woody makes the reunion land differently.