Conan O'Brien is a vibrant entertainer, writer, and talk show host. From that gleaming smile to that orange quaff of hair, he's undeniably a recognizable and prominent figure in our current pop culture, but is he ready for Pixar?
For those not in the know, the Toy Story franchise is getting (yes) a fifth film. While the third entry was arguably a perfect ending to a beloved story, a fifth film might be needed to wash the taste of the fourth film out of our mouths. Still, what could Conan O'Brien bring to the table?
Buzz, Woody, and... Conan?
In the entertainer's recent Instagram post (seen above), O'Brien made the announcement that he was joining the cast of the new Toy Story film. While he expressed a joking interest in the roles of Buzz and Woody, voiced by Tim Allen and Tom Hanks, respectively, it's unknown what role he will play at this time. However, the name "Smarty Pants" has been tossed around.
Casting popular celebrities in Disney/Pixar films isn't exactly anything new. Looking back, the last entry in the franchise featured appearances by Key and Peele, Keanu Reeves, and even the likes of Mel Brooks and Carol Burnett. O'Brien is just another dose of talent to an already stacked cast list.
Apart from his iconic talk show, Conan O'Brien cut his teeth on shows like Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons, and has even been featured in such films as The Lego Batman Movie and Vanilla Sky. The real question: is he ready for a Disney flick?
In this writer's opinion, Conan O'Brien is an entertaining comedic voice who will undoubtedly add his classic, punchy, smart-aleck humor as a strong addition. However, it also feels like Disney/Pixar's attempt at giving the film a little extra star power to grab viewer attention.
That's not necessarily a bad thing, but a fifth Toy Story movie feels a touch excessive in the grand scheme of things. Then again, it's proven to be one of Pixar's most successful properties. Money talks, after all.
Toy Story 5 will reportedly hit theatres in June of 2026.