Ernie Hudson Says He Didn’t Know He Was Replacing Carl Weathers in TOY STORY 5
Pixar is gearing up to bring fans back into the world of Toy Story with Toy Story 5, and while plenty of familiar faces are returning, there are also some changes behind the scenes.
One of those shifts involves the role of Combat Carl, a character originally voiced by the late Carl Weathers. Stepping into that role now is Ernie Hudson, and his path to joining the franchise came with a surprising twist he didn’t see coming.
Hudson, best known for his work in Ghostbusters, recently shared that joining the Toy Story universe had been something he’d hoped for over the years. What he didn’t expect was that he’d be taking over a role tied so closely to someone he knew personally.
“It was great to enter the franchise because I’ve always been a fan of it and I’ve always been disappointed that they never asked me to,” he said.
“And I had friends who was on it, Carl Weathers and Annie Potts and Tom Hanks and just a bunch of guys who I’ve worked with over the years, but they didn’t tell me that Combat Carl had been played by Carl Weathers.
“So when I went into the session, we did the first session and the fans heard about it and they told me. And I thought, ‘Well, why didn’t you…’ And I think they probably wanted me to sort of do my own thing without trying to emulate or repeat what he had done or something. I don’t know.
“So hopefully the fans will like it, but Carl, he had been a friend for 40, 50 years. I’ve known him for a long time, great guy, and I’m honored to play the role, but what I came out of it with was just how it’ll match up. You’ll have to let me know.”
That’s a pretty wild way to find out you’re stepping into an iconic role, especially one tied to a longtime friend. It also explains why Hudson’s version of Combat Carl will likely feel a little different, qs he’s bringing his own take to the character.
Combat Carl didn’t exactly dominate screen time in Toy Story 4, but he made a memorable appearance as part of Bo Peep’s crew of lost toys. The trio of Carls popped up briefly, scouting out opportunities for toys to find new homes, including a nearby birthday party packed with potential new owners. It was a small moment, but one that added flavor to Bo’s roaming lifestyle.
From what’s been revealed so far, Toy Story 5 looks like it will revisit that corner of the story. Woody and Bo are still out there, helping lost toys in the wild, and it’s a safe bet that at least one version of Combat Carl will be along for the ride. Whether it’s the same Carl from the last movie or a new one entirely hasn’t been confirmed.
At the same time, the new film appears to shift focus. Jessie is expected to take on a bigger leadership role back at Bonnie’s house, dealing with a new challenge involving Lilypad. That likely means Bo’s group, including Combat Carl, may have a smaller presence this time around while Woody temporarily reconnects with his old friends.
Even if Hudson’s screen time ends up being limited, he’s more than equipped to leave an impression. His voice acting résumé includes projects like Batman: The Animated Series and Transformers: Prime, and he’s been a steady presence in Hollywood for decades.
That experience should translate well into the Toy Story world, especially with a character like Combat Carl who thrives on personality, even in short bursts.
There’s also a chance this won’t be a one-and-done situation. If fans connect with Hudson’s take, Combat Carl could easily pop up again in future projects, whether that’s another film, a Disney+ series, or even shorts.
For now, though, it’s just cool to see Hudson finally get his moment in a franchise he’s admired for years, even if the circumstances around it caught him off guard. And stepping into a role tied to Carl Weathers adds an extra layer of meaning that fans will definitely feel when Toy Story 5 hits theaters.
Source: ScreenRant