Woody’s Toy Story 5 Return Means A Burning Question Can Be Answered 28 Years Later

Woody is returning for Toy Story 5, and that means a burning question about the famous cowboy can finally be answered after nearly three decades. As soon as Disney and Pixar confirmed that the Toy Story franchise would return for a fifth installment, it became expected that both Woody and Buzz Lightyear would return to keep the movies’ main characters around. Tim Allen confirmed his return as Buzz Lightyear, while Tom Hanks’ brother essentially confirmed he’d be back to voice Woody too. Even though Toy Story 4‘s ending seemingly gave the character a fitting conclusion to his arc, Pixar will now once again peel back more layers in the sequel.

Given where the last movie leaves Woody in comparison to the rest of Andy’s former toys, it is clear that Toy Story 5 will have some work to do explaining how they all get back together again. Story details are not known yet, but that has not stopped speculation from mounting about what exactly the toys will be up to and what sort of revelations about the franchise Pixar will make. The Toy Story movies have a history of recontextualizing the past with each new installment, and Toy Story 5 should continue that trend. In doing so, the sequel could finally answer some long-lasting questions about each character, including Woody.

Toy Story 5’s Story Could Reveal Woody’s Previous Owner Before Andy

One of the biggest mysteries about Woody in Toy Story is who his previous owner was before Andy. The movies have only ever explored Woody’s time with Andy, and then Bonnie, establishing his incredibly loyal connection to his owners. There has not even been a hint that Woody belonged to any other person before Andy. However, that has not stopped a contingent of viewers from believing that there is more to Woody’s backstory than the franchise has let on. These questions became more persistent and relevant following Toy Story 2, which revealed that Woody is an old-time collectible toy based on a once-popular TV series.

Thanks to the surprising backstory given to Woody, the idea that Andy has one of the toys from the 1950s show Woody’s Roundup does not completely line up. Toy Story 2 makes it clear that Woody toys were not as popular at that time, and it is unlikely that Andy ever watched the original series that inspired the toy’s creation. This is why theories have persisted for years that Woody must have had another owner before Andy. Now that Woody is going to be back in Toy Story 5, the movie should not pass up the opportunity to explore this.

Toy Story 5 Explaining Woody’s Owner History Can Connect To Andy’s Return

The possibility of revealing who owned Woody before might be even more likely with the reports that Toy Story 5 includes Andy too. One of the most popular theories is that the movie will explore Andy getting his toys back to pass them on to his kids. That potentially can be how Toy Story 5 explains Woody’s history. There is a theory that Andy’s father was Woody’s previous owner, meaning the toy was passed down through the family. Toy Story 5 could have Andy confirm this familial connection to Woody’s past as he explains to his own kids why the cowboy toy is so special.