The cast of Toy Story 5 discovered that Taylor Swift recorded an original song for the movie during its world-premiere red carpet in Los Angeles [1].

The surprise reveal highlights the extreme secrecy maintained by Disney and Pixar regarding the film's soundtrack. Such measures are often used to maximize marketing impact and prevent leaks before a major theatrical release.

Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Conan O'Brien, Joan Cusack, Scarlett Spears, and Greta Lee were among the actors who remained unaware of the collaboration [1]. The original song, titled “I Knew It, I Knew You,” was kept hidden from the cast throughout the production process [2, 3, 4].

Reports indicate that executives at Disney and Pixar chose to withhold the information because they did not trust the cast to keep the secret [5]. This decision ensured that the news of Swift's involvement would only surface during the promotional window for the film.

The revelation occurred just days before the movie is scheduled to hit theaters on June 19, 2026 [6]. The red-carpet event served as the primary venue for the actors to react to the news in real time.

Swift's contribution adds a high-profile musical element to the fifth installment of the franchise. The secrecy surrounding the track reflects a broader industry trend of using "surprise drops" to generate organic social media engagement and press coverage upon a film's debut.

“The original song, titled “I Knew It, I Knew You,” was kept hidden from the cast throughout the production process.”

This incident underscores the strategic use of celebrity partnerships as marketing tools in the modern film industry. By treating a soundtrack contribution as a plot twist for the cast, Disney and Pixar ensured a viral moment at the premiere, effectively turning the actors' genuine surprise into a promotional asset for the June 19, 2026, release.