Tom Hanks may have voiced Hollywood’s most iconic cowboy for more than 30 years, but apparently he still has a thing or two to learn about his own “Toy Story” character.
Prior to the release of “Toy Story 5Hanks was stunned by a surprising piece of franchise history involving Woody’s full name and a possible family connection to Jessie.
The actor also teased one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the upcoming episode and weighed in on whether voice actors should have their own Oscar category.
Tom Hanks has voiced the iconic “Toy Story” character Sheriff Woody for more than three decades, but even he is still getting used to some parts of the character’s history.
While promoting the upcoming “Toy Story 5,” Hanks sat down for an interview with BBC Radio 1 with his co-star Tim Allen, where critic Ali Plumb informed him that Sheriff Woody has a full name: Woody Pride.
“How did they find out?” Hanks exclaimed. “I’m playing the guy! I didn’t realize he had a last name.”
Plumb then dropped another surprise by revealing that Jessie the Cowgirl, voiced by Joan Cusack, also has a full name: Jessica Jane “Jessie” Pride.
“I guess that means you’re siblings,” Plumb suggested.
However, Hanks seemed confused by the revelation and quickly pushed back on the claim.
“Boy! No!” Hanks replied. “Distant cousins, please!”
Tim Allen was already aware of the story
During the interview, Allen, speaking for Buzz Lightyear, also said that he had heard about the information before and knew that Woody and Jessie were somehow related.
“There’s something in there. One of the guys on the Internet is getting these names,” Allen said. “I heard the same thing.”
Maybe Hanks was hesitant to accept this new relationship because he seemed worried about Woody and Jessie having some sort of romantic connection. But fans know that Jessie and Buzz have long been presented as a romantic couple, while Woody has always been attracted to Bo Peep, voiced by Annie Potts.
Tom Hanks teases a heartbreaking ‘Toy Story 5’ scene
“Toy Story 5” hits theaters on June 19 and will see Jessie take on a central role in a toys-versus-technology plot with the introduction of Lilypad, voiced by Greta Lee.
The story focuses on Bonnie, now 8 years old, and her toys as they struggle with Lilypad, a smart tablet device that threatens to replace creative playtime.
In a conversation with The Hollywood ReporterHanks noted that the film contains one of the most heartbreaking stories he has seen throughout the franchise.
“There’s one of the most heartbreaking scenes I’ve ever seen in any of the Toy Story movies,” Hanks explained. “When that little girl gets her feelings hurt by what other people write about her and she doesn’t understand why. She doesn’t know what she did wrong, but it hurts, and that’s a very prescient thing to have in a movie today about little kids and toys, don’t you think?”
Woody shows his age in ‘Toy Story 5’
However, director and co-writer Andrew Stanton clarified that Lilypad isn’t exactly the villain, even though fans might see her that way at first.
“She’s into the toys because they’re understandably scared,” Stanton shared Black. “She’s just the next stage in Bonnie’s life. She’s built like a toy in the sense that she wants to help the kid move forward, but she has very different skills and no experience, whereas Jessie has nothing but experience and probably isn’t prepared for what she’s going to do.”
Meanwhile, one of the biggest surprises in the latest installment is that Woody has aged considerably. Fans may not notice the difference at first, but when the wiry cowboy removes his hat, they’ll quickly see that he’s bald.
In a press release earlier this year, Stanton explained that Hanks’ character is simply enjoying his retirement.
He added: “The bald spot symbolizes that he’s just worn out from not trying to take care of himself as much anymore – just doing the dirty work that needed to be done to save a toy.”
Tom Hanks turns down a separate voice acting Oscar
While promoting the new episode in a conversation with Gold Derby, Hanks also weighed in on whether voice actors need a separate category at the Academy Awards.
Hanks, who has won two Oscars for 1993’s “Philadelphia” and 1994’s “Forrest Gump,” said there is no need for a new category because voice actors should be able to compete in the main acting races.
“I think they have enough categories,” he said, per Black. “The truth is, a voice actor can win Best Actor. The verdict is ‘any performance that touched you’.”
He continued, “We’ve talked about Andy Serkis, for example. Even though he doesn’t act like Andy Serkis, he gives all the raw material to it. There have been people who have been close to being nominated who don’t appear on camera. It could happen to a purely vocal actor.”
“If they’re moved, it means they’re moved by a human’s performance. That’s all the claim,” Hanks added.
