Pixar is famous for its recurring trends, Easter eggs, and references, andToy Story 5really needs to restore one that has been missing from six of the studio’s recent movies.Toy Story 5is one of Pixar’s most significant upcoming movies, with it being expected to be a big win after the box office failures of several recent original movies from Pixar.
Toy Story 5will be following up on two original movies,those being 2026’sHoppersand 2025’sElio, as well as the smash box office hit from 2024,Inside Out 2. If the previousToy Storymovies are anything to go by,Toy Story 5is expected to be another major box office hit, with 2019’sToy Story 4making $1.074 billion against a budget of $200 million.
Toy Story 5is already set to bring back many of the cast membersfrom the previous films, such as Tom Hanks' Woody and Tim Allen’s Buzz Lightyear. Withmore news aboutToy Story 5coming out as development continues, many fans are crossing their fingers that oneToy Storycast member will return, especially considering his significance to Pixar’s history.
John Ratzenberger Has Missed 6 Of Pixar’s Last 7 Movies
Inside Out 2 Is The Only Exception
John Ratzenberger is a staple of Pixar, with him working with the studio ever since their feature debut withToy Story, in which he voiced Hamm. Ratzenberger continued appearing in Pixar films, with him reprising the role of Hamm in eachToy Storysequel.Ratzenberger also had a cameo role in every single Pixar moviefor a long time, with him being considered Pixar’s good luck charm.
This trend stopped after 2020’sOnward, as 2020’sSoulwas the first Pixar movie that John Ratzenberger did not appear in. Shockingly, the actor also didn’t appear in 2021’sLuca, 2022’sTurning Red, 2022’sLightyear, or 2023’sElemental. Ratzenberger also didn’t appear in 2025’sElio, and there has been no word on whether he will appear in 2026’sHoppers.
Out of the last seven Pixar movies that have been released,Ratzenberger didn’t appear in six of them. The lone exception to this is 2024’sInside Out 2, which did feature Ratzenberger. It isn’t known why Ratzenberger has stopped appearing in every Pixar movie, as he has continued doing voice work in films likeLuckandSpellbound.
Toy Story 5 Seems Very Likely To Bring Back John Ratzenberger
Since Hamm Is Likely To Appear
After several missed Pixar movies, it seems likely thatToy Story 5will bring back John Ratzenberger. Thefirst image ofToy Story 5that was releasedfeatured Hamm, John Ratzenberger’s character. While this is just concept art, it makes it seem likely that the animated pig will appear in the film.
There is seemingly no reason to recast John Ratzenberger, and it would be odd to exclude Hamm after featuring him in the firstToy Story 5image. Hamm is a beloved character, so it would be a shame for him not to appear at all. Thus, it seems likely that John Ratzenberger will return to Pixar whenToy Story 5is released.
