Los Angeles: Actor and filmmaker Tom Hanks says the studio can replace his voice as Sheriff Woody in future ‘Toy Story’ films with artificial intelligence, calling it "a scary thought".
Hanks has voiced the character of the pull-string cowboy doll in all five installments of the franchise and said the studio already has enough recorded material to replicate his voice using AI if it chooses to do so.
"Time is undefeated. The question would be whether or not we could cobble together some version of me. Every word we have ever recorded in 'Toy Story' is on digital media somewhere, so they could put together anything they would want," he told Entertainment Weekly in an interview.
Asked whether he would voice the character in a sixth film, Hanks said it would have to be worthwhile.
"If you're gonna do another 'Toy Story', it better be worthwhile. It better be great. You better be examining some theme that is not just dragging it out because people like the title," he said.
"I mean, it is a huge corporate business without a doubt, I'm not gonna discount that. But unless it's good, new, fresh, there's no reason to do it at all," he added.
‘Toy Story 5’, released on June 19, emerged as the franchise's highest opening-weekend grosser at the global box office. The film is directed by Andrew Stanton, with McKenna Harris serving as co-director.
Also Read:
The film also featured Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, Joan Cusack as Jessie, Annie Potts as Bo Peep, and John Ratzenberger as Hamm.
The first film, released in 1995, revolved around Sheriff Woody, a pull-string cowboy doll whose status as his owner Andy's favourite toy is threatened by the arrival of Buzz Lightyear, a flashy, arrogant space ranger who initially thinks he is a real hero.
It was followed by sequels in 1999, 2010 and 2019.
