Joan Cusack made a rare red carpet appearance at the premiere of “Toy Story 5” at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, marking her return to the franchise as Jessie. Cusack said the film is her return to acting after six years away and her first red carpet in 11 years. She explained that stepping back from Hollywood gave her the chance to live a quieter life in Chicago, raise her children, and run her gift shop, Judy Maxwell Home, which she has owned and operated since 2014.
Cusack has voiced Jessie in every “Toy Story” film since the original was released in 1995. She said she never expected the role to last this long and initially thought she had been cast as a one-off joke because of Jessie’s cowgirl character and her Chicago accent. Over the years, however, Jessie became one of the franchise’s most recognizable characters, and Cusack’s return is a key part of the fifth film.
She also appeared in London in late May at a “Toy Story 5” launch event. Cusack spoke positively about Taylor Swift’s involvement in the film, noting that Swift’s new end credits song, “I Knew It, I Knew You,” was inspired by Jessie’s story. She suggested the song could help bring more attention to the movie.
“Toy Story 5” continues the story of Woody and Buzz as they reunite to save Bonnie from her new Lilypad smart tablet. Jessie joins Forky, Slinky Dog, Hamm, Trixie, and an army of Buzz Lightyears in a battle against technology that threatens to take over children’s lives. The film is set to open in theaters on June 19.
