'Toy Story' Nearly Starred Actors Other Than Tom Hanks and Tim Allen

Over the years, Pixar Animation Studios has done a lot to revolutionize filmmaking, particularly in producing animation flicks that cut across different ages.

The media giants came into the limelight in the nineties, churning out arguably some of the best animations they might ever make.

The several hits they dished out for fans garnered them fame and secured their place in the industry. One such movie was dubbed "Toy Story." It starred two actors, Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, in the iconic roles of Woody and Buzz Lightyear.

The film was so successful that it spawned multiple sequels and millions of dollar sales in merchandise. By this, it would be difficult to imagine any other actors voicing the part of Andy's most loved toys. Yet, some other stars were nearly chosen for the roles.

"The Toy Story" franchise now has four installments, with every sequel a box office hit like the first. It all started in 1995 as a collaboration between Pixar and Disney. Just before production began, Hanks and Allen landed the roles of Sheriff Woody and Buzz Lightyear, the top two favorite toys of their owner Andy Davis.

Both actors were already known as talented and unique stars following their success in other live roles. Hence it was not surprising when each person delivered a sterling acting as the voice of the toys. Fans loved their performance, and to date, many enjoy re-watching the collections to bring back the nostalgic feelings of childhood.

If any other stars were chosen for the roles, the movie and eventually the franchise might have turned out differently than expected. At first, producers first marked Paul Newman as Woody and Jim Carrey as Buzz.

The pair was apt for the role - Newman was a legend, and Carrey is known for his slapstick performances. Unfortunately, the production team was not allowed a big budget, which ended the idea of signing on either of the actors.

Although a partnership of Newman and Carrey might have brought its own spice, many fans do not have any regrets that Hanks and Allen landed the roles of Woody and Buzz.

After the success of the first installment, the pair have reprised their roles time and time again. Each actor earned a massive payout for those sequels. However, one can say that the pair returned to avoid disappointing fans that had followed the series from inception.

Its been decades since Hanks and Allen first lent their voice to the "Toy Story" franchise. Yet, they are a part of the most recognizable figures to grace any animation. After four releases and billions of dollars grossed, a fifth installment of "Toy Story" would be hugely accepted by fans.

Despite Disney's mantra of only producing their films in-house, they collaborated with Pixar to bring the first "Toy Story" film to life. The movie enjoyed rave reviews and positive responses from critics when it debuted in 1995.

As expected, the showrunners signed on for a sequel. Numerous production issues occurred along the line, but the film was eventually released towards the end of 1999, grossing more profits than its predecessor. It cleared several accolades, including the Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the 57th Golden Globe Awards.

A third installment came 11 years later. Again, like its predecessor, it garnered critical acclaim from all corners. It did not matter that some actors and directors did not reprise their roles. The franchise moved on without them and delivered the same excellent performance as seen in the previous ones.

The fourth and most recent sequel was released in 2019, amassing $1.073 billion worldwide. It also received several nominations, winning a few.

The cultural legacy of the "Toy Story" franchise cannot be over-emphasized. Since the first debut, various industries picked points from the film to channel into their own creations.

From game development to robotics, it inspired their researchers to replicate parts of the animation.

With such a massive impact that has cut across different sectors, it would have been foolhardy for the showrunners to end the franchise. Although a fifth installment remains a possibility, there are currently no plans in motion for its production.

For now, the showrunners have shifted the spotlight to an upcoming prequel spinoff titled "Lightyear." The film follows the life of a human Buzz Lightyear before he became a famous toy. Chris Evans will lend his voice for the Buzz role, replacing Allen. Fans can expect the movie to hit the cinemas in June 2022.