Tom Hanks on 'Toy Story 6': The Franchise Needs Real Creative Purpose

Tom Hanks isn't dismissing the possibility of a sixth Toy Story film, though he's laid out strict conditions for what would need to happen next.

The acclaimed actor reprised his iconic role as Woody in Toy Story 5, which is currently playing in cinemas. As audiences enjoy the latest chapter, speculation about the franchise's future inevitably follows. But Hanks has made his position crystal clear: any continuation must serve a genuine purpose.

"If you're gonna do another Toy Story, it better be worthwhile," Hanks told Entertainment Weekly. "It better be great. You better be examining some theme that is not just dragging it out because people like the title. I mean, it is a huge corporate business without a doubt, I'm not gonna discount that. But unless it's good, new, fresh, there's no reason to do it at all."

The conversation also touched on an increasingly relevant concern for the industry: artificial intelligence and digital recreation. Hanks acknowledged the technological possibility of recreating his voice for future projects, noting that decades of Toy Story recordings exist in digital form.

"Time is undefeated," he reflected. "The question would be whether or not we could cobble together some version of me. Every word we have ever recorded in time in Toy Story is on digital media somewhere, so they could put together anything they would want."

Both Hanks and Tim Allen, who voices Buzz Lightyear, described this prospect as unsettling. The two have maintained their working relationship across three decades, and their recent press rounds for Toy Story 5 have highlighted the enduring connection between the franchise's two lead performers.