Entertainment
Joan Cusack Spills the Truth About ‘Toy Story 5’s Most Shocking Moment
Editor’s Note: This interview contains spoilers for Toy Story 5.
Summary
Unlike the previous Toy Story movies, Toy Story 5 is Jessie’s (Joan Cusack) time to shine! Since her introduction in Toy Story 2, Jessie has been a fan favorite of the Toy Story franchise. The yodeling cowgirl’s determination and energetic spirit make her a natural-born leader; so, when Woody (Tom Hanks) leaves at the end of Toy Story 4, she is named the new sheriff. Despite her fearless disposition, prior to being part of Al McWhiggin’s (Wayne Knight) toy collection, she was abandoned by her original owner, Emily. Those fears still linger with her new owner, Bonnie (Scarlett Spears), especially when she goes head-to-head with Lilypad, voiced by Greta Lee.
Thanks to this shift in focus for the latest Toy Story sequel, Jessie is given the long overdue space to really explore herself. Her mission to connect Bonnie with a friend who likes to play with toys, too, leads her to realize her worth and her impact on others, including Emily. Plus, after years of a romantic attachment to Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), the pair are given a proper wedding by Bonnie and her new friend, Blaze (Mykal-Michelle Harris).
Ahead of the film’s release, Collider’s Meredith Loftus sat down with Cusack and Lee to speak about the latest installment. The actresses share their gratitude to have been given the space to explore their characters’ purpose in Bonnie’s life and how they ultimately come together for the love of their kid. Cusack candidly shares her reaction to Emily’s surprising connection to Jessie years after they are separated. Plus, Cusack exclusively reveals that she doesn’t think Buzz and Jessie will last long as a married couple. You can watch the full interview or read the transcript below.
Greta Lee Is Thankful for the Space To Explore Lilypad’s Purpose in ‘Toy Story 5’
“There’s space for both of their ideas and to watch them collide and clash heads.”
COLLIDER: This movie initially pits toys versus technology. If you could bring back an older device, what would you bring back?
GRETA LEE: An older device? The first generation iPod, the white one with the circular wheel on it.
JOAN CUSACK: That was easy.
LEE: But what would you bring back?
CUSACK: I don’t know, I feel like I just broke everything. So, I don’t know. They’d all be broken, whatever I brought back. Maybe it’s best they just stay away.
LEE: Stay away!
It’s interesting that, for your characters, Jessie and Lilypad are quite at odds with each other for most of the movie. But they both at times really question their purpose in Bonnie’s life. What was it like to explore that in your characters?
LEE: So great. So fun. I’m so glad that they gave us the space to do that for our characters. To see two really female characters who are really after it in their own way, and sometimes battle it out, and that’s fine. We get to see that happen. There’s space for both of their ideas and to watch them collide and clash heads, but then come together and make mistakes and all of it. I think it’s so wonderful.
CUSACK: And discover what’s really going on with the other one, which is a great love of their kid, which is cool.
It is such a unifying power there that you are both brought together for the love of this kid.
CUSACK: That is so unexpected, isn’t it?
Joan Cusack Reveals Her First Reaction to That ‘Toy Story 5’ Emily Connection
“Wow, this is going to be either great or horrible.”
Speaking of unexpected, Joan, when you read in the script that Emily named her daughter after Jessie, do you remember your initial reaction?
CUSACK: Oh my God. We just get little parts at a time, so you get a few scenes, and you do work on a few scenes. But then when we got to the emotional scenes, and I read that, I was like, “Wow, this is going to be either great or horrible.”
LEE: [Laughs] You thought that really?
CUSACK: Yeah, I didn’t know because it’s so intense, and you just don’t want it to be Hallmark-y. And of course it wasn’t.
LEE: No, it’s so real.
CUSACK: Because Andrew Stanton and Kenna Harris are brilliant, and they are amazing, and we were in good hands.
I cried when that connection was made.
LEE: So did I!
Right?
LEE: I cried so hard.
Tom Hanks Offers a Positive Update on the Long-Awaited ‘Mamma Mia!’ Sequel
‘Toy Story 5’s Hanks and Tim Allen also react to an updated version of the original movie.
Are Jessie and Buzz Lightyear Endgame? Joan Cusack Doesn’t Think So!
“Yeah, I think I’m done with that. Let’s try something else.”
Speaking of other big moments, after years of obvious attraction, Buzz and Jessie get married in the end.
CUSACK: Yeah.
What do you imagine married life would be like for the two of these toys?
CUSACK: You know, I think it probably lasts a day. [Laughs] And then Jessie’s like, “Yeah, I think I’m done with that. Let’s try something else.”
LEE: This is a Collider exclusive.
CUSACK: That was fun.
LEE: No one’s ever asked that. You’re the first to have asked that. This is the first time I’ve heard Joan give that answer, it’s so funny. Yeah, for one day.
CUSACK: She’s got other stuff she’s got to do.
LEE: That’s so Jessie though.
CUSACK: You know?
She’s going to hang out with Lilypad, even though she calls her “Jessica.”
LEE: But they’ve got things to do.
CUSACK: They do! They’ve got a lot of stuff to plan.
Toy Story 5 is now playing in theaters and IMAX.
Toy Story 5
- Release Date
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June 19, 2026
- Runtime
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102 Minutes
- Director
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Andrew Stanton, McKenna Harris
- Writers
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Andrew Stanton, McKenna Jean Harris
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Tim Allen
Buzz Lightyear (voice)
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Greta Lee
Lilypad (voice)
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