Tony Hale has admitted he did not realise he had made it into the final cut of Toy Story 4 until the film’s trailer was released. The actor, who voiced the character Forky in the 2019 animated feature, told People magazine he feared being replaced by a more high-profile star. “It wasn’t until I heard my voice on the Toy Story 4 trailer that I actually thought I was still in it,” Hale explained. “The whole time I was like, ‘They’re going to cut me. They’re going to replace me with some huge star.’”
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Hale, best known for his roles in Veep and Arrested Development, went on to play a pivotal role in the Oscar-winning film. Toy Story 4 follows Forky, a talking spork, who joins Woody (Tom Hanks) and the rest of the toys on a journey of discovery during a family road trip. The storyline highlights the character’s struggle with identity while emphasising the importance of friendship and belonging.
Speaking about Forky, Hale reflected on the character’s appeal. “When you were playing in a world of Forky from Toy Story, it means just the power of simplicity. That’s why children’s books are so popular,” he said. He noted that Forky was unique in being the first toy created by a child, assembled from everyday items including a spork, pipe cleaner arms and lollipop stick feet. “He just had this kind of wide-eyed simplicity and newness to him that was just so beautiful,” Hale added.
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Looking ahead, Hale briefly teased the forthcoming Toy Story 5, scheduled for release on 19 June 2026. While keeping details under wraps, he suggested the theme would explore toys in the age of technology. “They give you pieces of the script, and so I saw glimpses, but the glimpses I saw are pretty cool,” Hale revealed. “I don’t want to lose the surprise. I want to be completely surprised with Toy Story 5.”
