Pixar’s Toy Story 5 is putting Jessie the Cowgirl at the center of the story, explaining why the franchise is returning for another sequel. Writer-director Andrew Stanton said the idea came from realizing Jessie had long been an important character who had never truly been the focus of a movie. He noted that she was always designed with the same kind of detail as Woody, but her backstory and role in Bonnie’s room left plenty of room to explore. The new film builds on that by giving Jessie a larger emotional and narrative arc.
Stanton said he saw Jessie as an “untapped” character with a strong history dating back to Toy Story 2, where audiences first learned about her past and her attachment issues. In Toy Story 5, she becomes the lead in a new adventure that takes her back to her previous bedroom, before she ever met Woody and the rest of the toys. That setup gives the movie a chance to expand on her origins while also connecting to the events of Toy Story 4, which ended with Woody leaving Bonnie’s room and passing his sheriff badge to Jessie.
The film initially began without Woody in the script, according to Stanton, before the character was later brought back into the story. Even so, the focus remains on Jessie’s journey. During the movie, she encounters a new group of characters and a new child named Blaze. Among the new toys are Bad Bunny’s character and Conan O’Brien’s potty-training toy, adding to the film’s new cast and broadening the world beyond Bonnie’s room.
Co-writer Kenna Harris said Blaze was created to reflect the emotional idea of someone taking over the place where a character once made memories. That theme helps deepen Jessie’s story and gives the sequel a more personal angle. Production designer Bob Pauley also praised the choice to feature Jessie more heavily, calling her a strong, independent character who had not yet been fully used after Toy Story 2. Pauley said Jessie “never gives up” and has always had the potential to carry more of the story.
The movie has also drawn attention because Taylor Swift reportedly wrote an original song for the soundtrack, fueling fan speculation about a possible emotional connection to Jessie’s storyline. Given the franchise’s history of memorable tearjerker moments, especially Jessie’s past in Toy Story 2, the new film may again aim for emotional impact.
Toy Story 5 will debut exclusively in theaters on June 19, 2026.
