Tom Hanks has voiced Woody the cowboy for over 30 years and is one of the most recognisable voices in cinema history. And yet, as Toy Story 5 breaks box office records, Hanks has confirmed something deeply unsettling: Disney may not actually need him to make Toy Story 6. Under current law, there may be very little he can do about it.
He was informed that every word recorded over three decades of Toy Story exists in digital form, and that AI could piece those recordings into entirely new dialogue without a single hour of studio time. It's undeniably 'a scary thought', and most fans would agree.
The 30-Year Archive Sitting in Disney's Vaults
The original Toy Story debuted in 1995. Since then, Hanks has voiced Woody across four films, short features, video games, theme park recordings, and years of outtakes. That's three decades of vocal data, every nuance catalogued by one of the most powerful studios on earth.
Hanks noted that AI could take those 'zeros and ones' and reassemble them into whatever the studio desires—new dialogue, new emotion, all without the need for a recording booth, an actor, or any negotiation. He pointed to The Polar Express in 2004 as the moment studios first began locking vocal data inside a computer, emphasising that the technology has advanced significantly since.
Could Disney Legally Do It?
Here is where it gets genuinely unsettling. When Hanks signed on as Woody in the mid-1990s, AI voice cloning did not exist. Those contracts were never written with this technology in mind. Legacy clauses granting studios rights over an actor's 'recorded likeness and voice' were designed for re-releases, not for generating new performances from archived data.
California's AB 2602, passed in 2024, now requires explicit consent before a digital replica can be used in new productions. The SAG-AFTRA agreements won during the 2023 strikes also introduced further protections. These changes are important, but they only apply to contracts signed after these agreements and to living performers who can enforce them. It remains unclear what happens with older contracts or what rights an estate has after a performer dies. At this point, a studio could release a film using an AI-generated voice and face of a deceased actor without facing clear legal consequences.
Other entertainers could learn from James Earl Jones' situation. Before his passing in 2024, he reportedly permitted Disney to use his voice as Darth Vader on his terms, with his legal team present. Many actors, however, sign broad contracts early in their careers without considering what happens to their work after they're gone.
What This Means for Everyone Else
If a two-time Oscar winner feels nervous about AI, it spells potential trouble for the entire industry. A debut voice actor who signed a work-for-hire deal in 2018 lacks the leverage of someone like Tom Hanks. Toy Story 5 recently opened to a reported $312 million globally, creating immense pressure to greenlight a sixth film. The necessary technology, archives, and legal considerations are already in place.
Hanks has stated that any sequel must be 'worthwhile' and 'great'. This reflects his stance that his involvement comes with certain conditions. However, that may not be entirely the case.
If Disney decided to move forward with a sequel without him, would audiences even notice? And if they did, would that be considered borrowing or outright theft?
