Movies

Ernie Hudson Takes Over as Combat Carl in Toy Story 5!

BBG News

Among the most eagerly awaited movie sequels, particularly among lovers of talking toys, is undoubtedly Pixar’s Toy Story 5, set to reunite Woody, Buzz, and their familiar crew for another emotionally stirring journey. Regrettably, following the release of Toy Story 4, the franchise has experienced another sad departure from its esteemed cast, as Carl Weathers passed away in February 2024. However, don’t assume we won’t be hearing from Combat Carl or his junior version anymore – think again, soldier!

The creative team behind Toy Story hasn’t always been clear about how they will handle character decisions following an actor’s death, given that notable actors like Don Rickles, Jim Varney, R. Lee Ermey, Estelle Harris, and Ned Beatty have passed away in the franchise. Instead of retiring or making Combat Carl a mere visual backdrop, the filmmakers led by Pete Docter opted for recasting, with another well-known actor from the franchise stepping into the role.

Ernie Hudson Is Joining Toy Story 5

When you require a superior vocal stand-in for an animated blockbuster, who do you think you’ll call? Of course, it’s the Ghostbusters! And while not all four are involved, according to TMZ, Ernie Hudson has been cast for the roles of Combat Carl and his higher-pitched counterpart, Combat Carl Jr.

It is uncertain when Hudson joined the project or how much work he will have once in the recording studio, but we do know that he’ll contribute to the enjoyable experience when Toy Story 5 premieres in 2026. We can only anticipate a Winston Zedemore reference, or perhaps something more appropriate given Hudson’s impressive performance in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, which portrayed Winston as one of the most competent humans in that universe.

It’s quite unusual that they didn’t decide to retire the G.I. Joe-inspired character, considering Carl Weathers’ past military roles in films like Predator significantly contributed to his being cast as the voice of the action figure. However, it’s important to note that Hudson hasn’t had a military-free career; he’s portrayed General Stewart in Arrow, Colonel Davis in Twin Peaks: The Return, Admiral Frost in Rizzoli & Isles, among others.

It’s worth noting that aside from starring in Toy Story 5, Ernie Hudson is also set to appear in another Disney-related project. Reports suggest he’ll be part of the cast for Oswald: Down the Rabbit Hole, a low-budget horror film centered around Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Mickey Mouse’s predecessor. This character, along with “Steamboat Willie” and Winnie the Pooh, are now part of the public domain and are being used in various mash-up genre films like Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble.

It’s unclear if Combat Carl will participate in a battle against Bambi or something else, but it seems likely that he’ll avoid engaging in that specific conflict, given his military nature.

Keep an eye out for further information on Toy Story 5 as it emerges from the toy box, and don’t miss out on watching Carl Weathers’ outstanding performances in Toy Story of Terror! and other installments within this series by subscribing to Disney+.

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2025-04-21 17:39

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