Tim Allen and Joan Cusack made it a family affair at the Los Angeles premiere of ‘Toy Story 5’ on Tuesday, June 9, each walking the red carpet with their loved ones at the event, which also included a surprise appearance from Taylor Swift.According to People, Allen, 72, who voices superhero action figure Buzz Lightyear in the franchise, attended alongside his wife Jane Hajduk, 59, and their daughters Katherine Allen, 36, and Elizabeth Allen-Dick, 17. Cusack, 63, who voices cowgirl Jessie, made a rare red carpet appearance alongside her husband Richard Burke and their sons Dylan John Burke, 28, and Miles Burke, 25.
Tim Allen and his family at the premiere
This was not the first time Allen’s family had shown up to support him at a ‘Toy Story’ premiere. Katherine, Elizabeth and Hajduk also attended the June 2019 premiere of ‘Toy Story 4’, where Elizabeth told the outlet, “It’s cool, I like it,” and Katherine noted that their dad being known as Buzz Lightyear was nothing new. “I am so used to it, he has been a toy since I was 6,” she said, pointing out she was born before the first ‘Toy Story’ film came out in 1995. Allen also said during that premiere that ‘Toy Story 2’ was the instalment he and his family watched the most.
Joan Cusack on stepping away from Hollywood
Speaking to Variety on the red carpet, Cusack opened up about why she had chosen to step back from the spotlight in recent years. “I feel so honoured to have worked in this industry for a long time,” she said. “But it’s also great to live your life and raise your kids and be in Chicago and be a normal person. It’s kind of priceless, so there’s that.”
Her Los Angeles appearance followed her and Burke’s attendance at the London premiere on May 28, which marked her first red carpet appearance since September 2015, making Tuesday’s outing only her second public event in a decade. Cusack and Burke have been married since 1996.
What ‘Toy Story 5’ is about
While Woody and Buzz Lightyear have traditionally been the franchise’s central characters, ‘Toy Story 5’ shifts its focus considerably. Allen previously revealed that the film would centre largely on Cusack’s character Jessie. “I can tell you that it’s a lot about Jessie,” he said. “Tom and I do, Woody and I, do realign. And there’s an unbelievable opening scene with Buzz Lightyear. I can give you that, but I can’t give you much more.“
The official synopsis describes the film as “Toy meets Tech,” with Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the gang’s roles challenged when they are introduced to the electronics that kids are now obsessed with. The story centres on Bonnie’s newest obsession, a sleek smart tablet called Lily Pad, gifted by her parents. In the trailer, Woody checks in with Jessie over a walkie-talkie. “Toys are for play… but tech is for everything,” he says somberly. Jessie doesn’t sugarcoat the stakes: “I’m losing Bonnie to this device.”
The returning and new cast
The film brings back Tom Hanks as Woody, Allen as Buzz, Tony Hale as Forky, Blake Clark as Slinky Dog, Wallace Shawn as Rex and John Ratzenberger as Hamm. New additions include Greta Lee as the voice of Lily Pad, Alan Cumming as Evil Bullseye, and Bad Bunny as a character described as “effortlessly cool and mysterious” called Pizza with Sunglasses. It was also revealed on Tuesday that singer Tyla will be voicing the Inflatable Flamingo in a localised version of the film for Sub-Saharan audiences.Cusack joined the ‘Toy Story’ franchise with the second film, which arrived in theatres in 1999. The fifth film marks her return to the franchise since 2019, when she voiced Jessie in ‘Toy Story 4’. The two-time Oscar nominee has also previously starred in ‘Klaus’, appeared onscreen in ‘Let It Snow’ and took on a role in ‘Homecoming’.‘Toy Story 5’ arrives in theatres on June 19.
