Tom Hanks and Tim Allen Talk Friendship And The Emotions Of Toy Story 4

Toy Story 4 brings back two of Pixar’s most beloved characters, Woody and Buzz, to explore the transitions all friendships face with the passage of time. This 24 year old franchise hasn’t only been the basis for countless toys, it’s created a friendship between the two stars. 

“I love Hanks,” says Tim Allen, voice of Buzz Lightyear. The bond they’ve created through the films has resulted in a relationship that includes meeting up several times a year. “We sit down and we talk for about three and a half hours straight every time we get together,” agrees Tom Hanks, voice of Woody. 

That doesn’t mean that these two old toys haven’t been excited to welcome some new toys into the family. “The best part of this whole thing is the new guys,” according to Allen. “It really is the coolest part of this to see this whole family rise up.” 

Allen and Hanks both had an emotional reaction to the film’s final scene. “I wrestle with loss in my family and loss in my life,” says Allen. “And that’s what this is about…I had a real tough time.” 

Hanks went so far as to turn his back to the filmmakers when recording his final lines to avoid any feelings of self consciousness. “When it came to pass, I felt as though I was on the other side of a river waving to everybody that I had left back in the old country. It was pretty profound.” 

Both actors are extremely grateful for the opportunity to be a part of Toy Story. “Woody has been this great gift that I’ve seen play out again and again in my own family as well as sort of around the world,” says Hanks. “No matter how old you are now, when you see one of the movies, you’re the same age you were when you saw the first one.”

Allen never expected that Woody and Buzz would become such icons. “There’s a theme park…a really spectacular one that’s about this movie we started 25 years ago. I can’t describe it except I’m honored and humbled to be part of this thing.”

You can see Woody and Buzz in Toy Story 4 when it hits theaters on June 21, 2019.

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