Aussie cameos and the Taylor Swift effect: Everything we know about Toy Story 5

We are just weeks away from the release of Toy Story 5, excitement is soaring to infinity and beyond and rumours are shaking up a story 30 year in the making.

The latest instalment in Pixar’s biggest franchise hits Australian cinemas on June 18, promising a new adventure for the characters we have known and loved for 30 years.

Unsurprisingly, speculation about what that adventure will be has been everywhere – helped by exciting cast announcements, including a surprise Australian addition, and the biggest artist in the world. No biggie.

Keep reading for all the confirmed details, gossip and speculation about what to expect from Toy Story 5:

Taylor Swift’s soundtrack song

It’s a Tay Story, baby just say yes.

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After a month of teasing, speculation and Easter eggs, Taylor Swift confirmed she was releasing a new single for the film, I Knew it, I Knew You, on June 5.

The emotional song was a return to her country music roots.

“I’ve always dreamed of getting to write for these characters who I’ve adored since I was a five-year-old kid watching the first Toy Story movie,” Swift wrote.

“I fell instantly in love with Toy Story 5 when I was lucky enough to see it in its early stages, and I wrote this song as soon as I got home from the screening.

“Sometimes you just know, right?”

The final puzzle piece is how the song will fit into the film.

Based on the sound, it’s surely going to be played during a big emotional climax – so it’s probably best to BYO tissues.

Celebrity cameos

Of course, Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack are back as Woody, Buzz and Jessie, along with plenty of other Toy Story favourites like Bo Peep, Hamm, Rex, Forky and Slinky Dog.

But while Swift’s involvement is just musical, we do know for sure that plenty of other celebs have joined the cast.

Among new characters are Conan O’Brien as electronic potty-training toy Smarty Pants and Craig Robinson as Atlas, a GPS hippo toy.

There will be an Australian voice among the toys too, at least for audiences Down Under.

Gold Coast producer Paul Fisher, known as FISHER, will voice Garden Gnome in the Australian and New Zealand release of the film – “a member of a small but scrappy community of forgotten toys living in an abandoned backyard shed”.

Fisher said he couldn’t wait to watch it with wife Chloe and two young daughters, Bobbi, 23 months, and Andi, four months.

“THIS IS ACTUALLY WILD!” he reacted on Instagram.

He’ll be in excellent company, with Bad Bunny also announced as one of the forgotten toys, Pizza with Sunglasses. That’s all we know, but consider us intrigued.

The Traitors host Alan Cumming was also announced as Evil Bullseye, an alter-ego of Woody’s horse toy who up to this point had never spoken.

A relatable new villain

Our biggest hint at the plot is thanks to the announcement of Greta Lee’s character, Lilypad.

It will be a toy versus tech tale, with the story focusing on the impact of technology and electronics on children.

Lilypad is a tablet that captures all the attention of the toys’ owner, Bonnie, making her the main antagonist of the film.

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Hanks told the BBC he and all the cast related to this aspect, and that a particular scene really resonated.

He pointed to “a moment in the movie where we look out on the cityscape and we see that blue glow of a phone in bedrooms and whatnot, and it does strike terror into the heart”.

What else can we expect?

We know there’s a big Buzz moment on the way – in the opening scene, in fact.

“There’s an unbelievable opening scene with Buzz Lightyear. I can give you that, but I can’t give you much more,” Allen told People.

He also said the film would have a big focus on Jessie, who in the final trailer is seen going toe-to-toe with Lilypad and leading the toys on their adventure.

As for everything else? We’ll have to wait for Toy Story 5 to hit cinemas on June 18 to find out.