The creators of "Toy Story 5" revealed how Bad Bunny's voice came to be featured in the film. Earlier this week, it was announced that the Puerto Rican music star had joined the voice cast of the upcoming Pixar animated film.
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, makes a cameo appearance as the sunglasses-wearing Pizza, part of a small but significant group of forgotten toys living in an abandoned outdoor playhouse.
Explaining how his cameo role came about, the film's co-writer and co-director, Andrew Stanton, told the audience at the UK launch of "Toy Story 5" in London on Thursday: "They kind of come in a moment where you have these characters who only need one line. That's the beauty of it sometimes: 'Who would be perfect for this role?'"«
He continued, "We learned that Bad Bunny was a big fan of Toy Story.".
Producer Lindsay Collins said they discovered the singer was a big fan of the long-running franchise during the pandemic, when he was filming videos playing with his Toy Story dolls.
«"We thought, 'Maybe, maybe,'" Collins said, before she and Stanton both declared, "It couldn't hurt to ask.".
The producer added: "And he said yes.".
It seems that Tom Hanks, who voiced the toy Sheriff Woody, learned about Bad Rabbit's cameo appearance at this very moment.
«"Is that Pizza in sunglasses?" he asked, before delivering his verdict: "Perfect casting.".
Rumors circulated that another music industry superstar, Taylor Swift, might be involved with the film and potentially perform a song on the soundtrack. However, Stanton and Collins denied these reports earlier this week.
In addition to Bad Bunny, Alan Cumming will make a cameo appearance as Evil Bullseye, a sinister doppelganger of Bullseye's trusty horse, while British radio stars Jordan North and Sian Welby will voice the Garden Gnome and Inflatable Flamingo in the UK version of the film.
The fifth installment also introduced new characters: Conan O'Brien as Smarty Pants and Greta Lee as Lily Pad, a tablet that competes for their child's attention.
They are joined by longtime cast members, including Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, and Joan Cusack as Jessie.
Hanks, Allen, Cusack, Lee, North and Welby attended the UK launch event at the Odeon Luxe cinema in Leicester Square along with Stanton and Collins.
The premiere of the cartoon "Toy Story 5" will take place on June 19.