New Toy Story 5 Actor Responds to Recasting (& Didn’t Realize They Were Taking Over an Iconic Role)

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The upcoming Toy Story 5 will feature many beloved characters from past films, though some have new voice actors. Sadly, this is due to the passing of actors who were part of the franchise, including Carl Weathers, known for his roles in Rocky and Predator. He voiced the action figure Combat Carl in Toy Story 4, and Ernie Hudson has now taken on the role following Weathers’ death in 2024. Hudson, a Ghostbusters star, was thrilled to join the Toy Story series and didn’t realize he was succeeding Weathers as Combat Carl until after he accepted the part.

In a recent interview with Screen Rant, actor Keith Hudson talked about joining the cast of Toy Story 5. He shared that he’d always loved the films and wished he’d been asked to participate earlier. He’d worked with several people involved in the franchise, like Carl Weathers, Annie Potts, and Tom Hanks, but was surprised to learn after recording his part that Carl Weathers had previously voiced the character Combat Carl. Hudson suspects the filmmakers wanted him to create his own unique take on the role, rather than imitate Weathers. He hopes fans enjoy his performance and is eager to hear what they think, especially considering his long friendship with the late Carl Weathers.

What Will Combat Carl’s Role In Toy Story 5 Be?

Combat Carl wasn’t a major character in Toy Story 4. A few Combat Carl figures briefly appear to tell Bo Peep about a birthday party with around 20 to 30 children. These Carls are part of Bo’s group of lost toys who try to find new homes for themselves, and one of them is excited about the possibility of being played with and taken home at the party. It’s likely Combat Carl will have a similar small role in Toy Story 5.

While Carl hasn’t been a big focus in the promotion for Toy Story 5 so far, we know Bo Peep’s group of lost toys will be returning. The trailer shows Woody, Bo, and the others continuing to find forgotten toys in the wild, and it’s very likely a Combat Carl figure will be among them. It’s currently unclear whether this Carl is the same one we’ve seen before, or a new toy Woody and Bo discover on their adventures.

From what we’ve gathered about Toy Story 5, Carl is likely to make a brief appearance at the start to show viewers what Woody and Bo have been doing since Toy Story 4. While Bo and the lost toys had a significant role in the previous film, they might not be as central this time. The trailer suggests only Woody visits Bonnie’s house to help Jessie, Buzz, and the other toys with a new problem. This makes sense because Toy Story 4 focused heavily on Bo and her impact on Woody’s story, but Toy Story 5 seems to be about Jessie stepping up as a leader and facing her own challenges. Giving Jessie more screen time than Bo’s group would be a good decision. Plus, all the lost toys don’t necessarily need to be involved; Bo can continue her search for them while Woody reconnects with his friends for a little while.

Even with a small role in Toy Story 5, Ernie Hudson is likely to deliver a fantastic performance as Combat Carl. He’s a seasoned voice actor with a strong background in animation, having lent his voice to shows like Pound Puppies, Batman: The Animated Series, and Transformers: Prime. A Hollywood mainstay for years, Hudson seems ideally suited to bring his own unique take to the character. This role could even make Combat Carl a popular new character, potentially leading to Hudson reprising it in future projects.

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2026-03-31 17:47