Tom Hanks Surprised by Taylor Swift Song in Toy Story 5

Tom Hanks said he was unaware that Taylor Swift wrote a secret song for Toy Story 5 until the film's premiere in Los Angeles [1, 2].

The surprise highlights the high level of secrecy maintained by the production to maximize the impact for both the audience and the voice cast. In a franchise as globally recognized as Toy Story, such strategic marketing reveals are designed to generate significant social media engagement and press coverage upon the film's release.

Hanks spoke about the revelation during the premiere event, which took place on Tuesday night in mid-May 2026 [1, 4]. He said the project was hidden from the primary actors to ensure a genuine reaction. "It was kept top secret, even from me," Hanks said ^[1].

The singer-songwriter's contribution was a rapid production. According to producers, Swift created the song in just one day ^[5]. This quick turnaround allowed the production team to keep the track under wraps until the red-carpet event, where Swift performed the new piece ^[4].

Hanks said he had no idea Swift was involved with the soundtrack until the event occurred ^[2]. The decision to exclude the cast from the knowledge of the song was an intentional choice by the film's leadership. "We wanted it to be a surprise for everyone, so we didn’t tell the cast," a Toy Story 5 producer said ^[3].

Toy Story 5 marks the fifth installment in the long-running franchise ^[1]. The film continues the legacy of the series while integrating modern pop-culture collaborations to reach new demographics. The secrecy surrounding the song served as a focal point for the Los Angeles event, bridging the gap between the film's established voice cast and the current music industry's biggest stars.