Pixar Animation Studios has made an exciting announcement regarding the casting for the beloved character Combat Carl in the highly anticipated film Toy Story 5. The role, which was previously voiced by the talented Carl Weathers, who sadly passed away at the age of 76, will now be brought to life by a new actor. Toy Story 5 is scheduled to hit theaters on June 19, 2026, promising fans another delightful adventure in the cherished franchise.

Meet Ernie Hudson: The New Voice of Combat Carl

In a thrilling development, the legendary actor Ernie Hudson, known for his iconic role in Ghostbusters, has been chosen to provide the voice for Combat Carl. This character, reminiscent of a classic G.I. Joe figure, made a memorable appearance in Toy Story 4. Hudson’s extensive experience in animation includes notable roles in various projects, such as the 2004 film Clifford’s Really Big Movie and the 2016 animated feature Batman: Bad Blood. His voice can also be heard in popular animated series like Superman: The Animated Series, Transformers: Prime, Robot Chicken, Infinity Train, and Star Wars: The Bad Batch.

The creative vision behind Toy Story 5 is led by acclaimed director Andrew Stanton, renowned for his work on animated classics like Finding Nemo and Wall-E. Stanton also penned the screenplay, ensuring that fans can expect a deep and engaging storyline. This next installment will see the return of franchise favorites, with the iconic voices of Tom Hanks reprising his role as Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear. Their characters were last featured together in the 2019 release of Toy Story 4, where Woody opted to remain with Bo Peep rather than return home to Bonnie.

As of now, Pixar has yet to unveil the official synopsis or the complete cast list for Toy Story 5. However, fans can anticipate that Joan Cusack’s character, Jessie, will play a significant role in this new chapter. Furthermore, Tim Allen has expressed his enthusiasm for the sequel, sharing insights about a “really good” story that awaits audiences.

“It’s a very, very clever story. Do you want to do five of these? I don’t really believe it’s about the money,” he remarked. “I’m sure they want it to be a success, but that’s not why they did it. Had they not come up with a brilliant script, they wouldn’t have done it, and they wouldn’t have called me and Tom [Hanks]. It’s really clever. It was quite a struggle to get it right, and then maybe two hours in, I was back to voicing Buzz. I feel incredibly blessed to be Buzz Lightyear, to be honest. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I think we’re about a year out from release. I’ve gotten up to the third act. We’ll complete the third act and then revisit it for final touches. I can’t wait to share this amazing story; it’s truly something special.”

(Source: Deadline)