Conan O'Brien Cast in Mysterious Toy Story 5 Role

Disney has tapped comedian Conan O'Brien to voice a new character named Smarty Pants in Toy Story 5. The beloved talk show host revealed his casting through a humorous Instagram skit where he jokingly petitioned to replace either Woody or Buzz Lightyear (rest assured, original voice actors Tom Hanks and Tim Allen will reprise their iconic roles).

A Mysterious New Addition to Andy's Toy Box

O'Brien announced his involvement via his TeamCoco Instagram account with a playful video suggesting he originally lobbied for more prominent roles before accepting the part of Smarty Pants. The nature of this new character remains shrouded in mystery, fueling fan theories about potential storylines.

The fifth installment will see Woody, Buzz and their toy companions navigating a world where children increasingly prefer digital devices over traditional playthings. Many speculate Smarty Pants might represent this technological shift - possibly as an electronic toy that challenges our nostalgic heroes.

Revitalizing the Beloved Franchise

This marks Pixar's first major Toy Story release since 2019's fourth installment, following the underwhelming performance of 2022's Lightyear spinoff. Scheduled for June 19, 2026, Toy Story 5 aims to rejuvenate the franchise while facing the daunting challenge of living up to its critically-acclaimed predecessors.

The film will kick off a wave of Pixar sequels including Incredibles 3 and Coco 2. Disney clearly believes there are more stories to tell in the Toy Story universe, though fans remain divided about continuing beyond what many considered a perfect conclusion in Toy Story 4.