Toy Story 5's story will see the toys contending with the challenges of modern technology and the hold that such devices have over Bonnie, as teased in concept art showing her playing with a tablet instead of her toys. Interestingly, the highly anticipated sequel's plot will also incorporate an army of Buzz Lightyear toys stuck in toy mode.

Woody and Buzz are, unsurprisingly, confirmed to be returning for Toy Story 5 as they have been at the center of the franchise. Jessie appeared in the sequel's announcement video and concept art, all but guaranteeing her return, along with Bullseye, Forky, Hamm, Rex, and Slinky Dog also appearing in the concept art. While these characters are confirmed or expected to appear, Toy Story 5 can also bring back other familiar characters who can enhance the franchise's newest installment.

10 Andy

Last Movie Appearance: Toy Story 4 (Flashbacks)

Given Andy's deeply satisfying and emotional ending in Toy Story 3, it could be difficult to bring his character back in Toy Story 5. Toy Story 4 navigated around this issue with flashbacks showing happy memories of a younger Andy playing with his beloved toys. In Toy Story 5, it would be intriguing to see how Andy's life has progressed since he gifted his toys to Bonnie in Toy Story 3 and what would happen if he sees his old toys again.

If Andy does not appear in Toy Story 5, it would be the franchise's first feature film that does not feature him despite his integral role in the overarching narrative. This is not a compelling enough reason for Andy to return, though. Toy Story 5 needs to have a strong story reason to bring Andy back that will push the franchise forward without undermining Toy Story 3's ending. If that can be done, Andy's return will be incredibly exciting.

9 Bo Peep

Last Movie Appearance: Toy Story 4

After being absent from Toy Story 3, Bo Peep returned to Toy Story 4 with her most prominent and well-developed story yet in the franchise. Toy Story 4's ending saw Woody staying with Bo Peep while Buzz, Forky, and the majority of the other toys returned to Bonnie. It remains to be seen how or why Woody will presumably reunite with the other toys and go back to Bonnie, but that story cannot work unless Bo Peep is part of it.

Her absence in Toy Story 5 would feel like an even more glaring omission than it did in Toy Story 3, however.

Toy Story 4 did Bo Peep justice, finally giving her agency and making her as fleshed out as some of the other main toys. Her absence in Toy Story 5 would feel like an even more glaring omission than it did in Toy Story 3, however. Bo Peep does not need to live a life where she is owned by a specific child again, as the adventurous, free-spirited path suits her better, but the newest sequel should feature her and address her journey since Toy Story 4's conclusion.

8 Babyface

Last Movie Appearance: Toy Story

While the Toy Story franchise features many recurring toys, none of Sid's toys, including Babyface, have appeared in the series since the original film. It would be fascinating to see how Babyface and the other toys have evolved since terrifying Sid all those years ago. As an individual created by Sid brutally destroying and fusing parts of various toys together, Babyface and Sid's other toys had to learn how to adapt, a skill that could be useful to teach in Toy Story 5.

Sid briefly appears as a garbage disposal worker in Toy Story 3.

Adaptation will be more important than ever in Toy Story 5 as the toys grapple with being discarded in favor of technology. Babyface has plenty to teach Woody, Buzz, and the other toys about adapting, and how to survive in a difficult situation. Sid was briefly featured in a Toy Story 3 cameo, and now is a good opportunity to bring back Babyface, as well as some of his other toys for the first time since the first Toy Story was released in 1995.

7 Emperor Zurg

Last Movie Appearance: Toy Story 3 (Credits Scene)

With Toy Story 5 featuring an army of Buzz Lightyears stuck in toy mode, the sequel seems like a perfect opportunity to bring back Buzz's archnemesis, Emperor Zurg. These Buzz Lightyears will not understand that Zurg is a toy and will believe him to be a real galactic emperor wielding enormous power. Other than Lightyear, Zurg's last major role in the Toy Story franchise was in Toy Story 2, making the conflict between the toy versions of Buzz and Zurg long overdue.

A Zurg toy was last seen being donated to Sunnyside Daycare during an end credits scene in Toy Story 3. More Zurg was also teased during a Lightyear post-credits scene, hinting at a sequel that never came to fruition after Lightyear's disappointing box office performance. Even though Lightyear 2 is not happening, Zurg's story can continue in Toy Story 5 as a natural opponent for the army of Buzz Lightyears, perhaps with an army of Zurgs stuck in toy mode as well.

6 RC Car

Last Movie Appearance: Toy Story 4 (Flashbacks)

Toy Story 5 will explore the toys being neglected in favor of modern technology, but it would be remiss to not acknowledge that many of the toys are the products of older technology. A great example of this is RC, a remote-controlled toy race car that was one of Andy's toys in the earlier Toy Story films. RC is part of the iconic sequence that culminates with Woody and Buzz flying and was still among Andy's toys during Toy Story 2.

RC briefly appeared in Toy Story 3 in the homemade videos of Andy playing with his toys, but was otherwise absent in the threequel. He returned via flashback in Toy Story 4 when the toys saved him from being stuck outside in a rainstorm. Toy Story 5 can reveal what happened to RC since his last present-day appearance in Toy Story 2. More importantly for the story, RC can bring some nuance to the exploration of traditional toys versus technology, and that it is not a simple matter of technology being good or bad.

5 Wheezy

Last Movie Appearance: Toy Story 3 (Flashbacks)

Wheezy was an important character in Toy Story 2, with Woody's mission to save the toy penguin inadvertently leading the cowboy toy to being kidnapped by Al. At the end of Toy Story 2, Wheezy memorably sings "You've Got A Friend In Me" with his new and improved squeaker. In Toy Story 3, he was among the toys Woody mentioned having been given away or sold during yard sales, although Wheezy could be seen in the home videos from Andy's childhood.

Toy Story 5 can address what happened to Wheezy after the events of Toy Story 2. While Wheezy might simply belong to a new kid who loves him, there is something dissatisfying about the character having been potentially sold in a yard sale after Woody saved him from this fate earlier in the series. Toy Story 5 can provide some closure on this matter, with Woody undoubtedly being overjoyed by seeing Wheezy again and knowing that his old friend is safe.

4 Mr. Pricklepants

Last Movie Appearance: Toy Story 4

Mr. Pricklepants is one of Bonnie's original toys, first introduced in Toy Story 3 when Bonnie first brought Woody home. Mr. Pricklepants also appeared in Toy Story 4 while Andy's former toys adapted to life alongside Bonnie's original toys. Since Mr. Pricklepants is a thespian with a penchant for delivering dramatic monologues, he is the ideal character to deliver an oration about the dire circumstances of children choosing their tablets and other technology over their more traditional toys.

The humorous nature of Mr. Pricklepants and the way he treats everything like a stage performance makes his character well-suited to articulating some of the story's themes and overarching questions in an entertaining and accessible way. He is also needed to ensure that Bonnie's original toys are not too overlooked or forgotten. Andy's former toys are naturally at the forefront of the story, but Mr. Pricklepants and the other originals should still have opportunities to be spotlighted.

3 Molly

Last Movie Appearance: Toy Story 4 (Flashbacks)

Andy would be the most exciting human character to see make a return, but having his sister, Molly, back in the story could also be compelling. Just as Andy grew up during the original trilogy, so did Molly, as she went from being a baby in the first film to being a tween in Toy Story 3, along with Toy Story 4 showing a younger version of her via the opening flashbacks. Molly will likely be a teenager when Toy Story 5 begins, no longer in the tween stage of life.

While Molly will no longer be playing with toys, like Bonnie, she may be struggling to find the balance between using modern technology and disconnecting from it in Toy Story 5. Bonnie could show the effects of excessive technology use on younger children, while Molly could show the effects it has on teenagers. This can help demonstrate that it is a ubiquitous issue that individuals face regardless of their current age.

2 Ducky & Bunny

Last Movie Appearance: Toy Story 4

Voiced by comedic duo Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, Ducky and Bunny proved to be hilarious additions to the franchise in Toy Story 4. In addition to their banter, part of the characters' appeal is how vividly and enthusiastically they describe absurd scenarios, which are made even better by playing out on screen. It would be a missed opportunity for them not to return in Toy Story 5 after providing some of the most memorable humor in Toy Story 4.

The absurd scenarios they describe could be made even better with the story's focus on modern technology, along with the ridiculous plans Ducky and Bunny might suggest about how to get Bonnie to stop obsessing over her tablet.

Ducky and Bunny were last seen staying at the carnival alongside Woody and Bo Peep, focused on helping lost toys find children who will love them. Whatever Woody's journey ends up being in Toy Story 5, Ducky and Bunny should be part of it. The absurd scenarios they describe could be made even better with the story's focus on modern technology, along with the ridiculous plans Ducky and Bunny might suggest about how to get Bonnie to stop obsessing over her tablet.

1 Duke Caboom

Last Movie Appearance: Toy Story 4

Keanu Reeves is best known for his roles in The Matrix and John Wick franchises, but he also made his mark on the Toy Story franchise by voicing Duke Caboom. Debuting in Toy Story 4, Duke is a Canadian toy who is supposed to be a daredevil and stuntperson, even though he struggles to perform the stunts he is supposed to be able to do. After making a seemingly impossible jump with his motorcycle, Duke chooses to stay with Woody, Bo Peep, Ducky, and Bunny.

Duke can be incorporated into Woody's story in Toy Story 5. The Canadian daredevil overcame his insecurities in the previous film, but Duke may now be faced with new insecurities given the things he cannot do that modern technology can. From Duke to Babyface, Toy Story 5 can bring back many familiar characters, not only from Toy Story 4, but from the earlier films, making the franchise continue to feel cohesive and interconnected.