With the news of comedian Don Rickles death on Thursday, the entertainment world is mourning one of the great talents of the comedy world in the last century. But as we look forward, many are now wondering how Rickles’ passing will effect Toy Story 4, as Disney announced this morning that Rickles had not yet recorded his part as the iconic Mr Potato Head.
Beginning with the original Toy Story in 1995, Rickles reprised his role in 1999’s Toy Story 2, and Toy Story 3 in 2010. With the fourth installment expecting a 2019 release, after various rewrites, the film will be directed by John Lasseter and see many of the original cast members returning to voice the rambunctious group of toys. The story will follow Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) as they go on a search for Bo Peep (Annie Potts), after she is given away.
Just this week, it was reported by Carrie Fisher‘s brother that his sister would not only posthumously appear in Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, which she had already filmed, but also Star Wars Episode IX, which has not yet filmed. Much like Fisher’s CGI appearance Rogue One, many are expecting that the audio for Rickle’s part could be pulled from previous films, and pieced together to make a substantial bit of dialogue.
Aside from Toy Story, Rickles had a long career, most well-known for starring in the 1958 film Run Silent, Run Deep, as well as the 1970 film Kelly’s Heroes. In 1976 he also had a two-year run on the sitcom C.P.O. Sharkey. In an interview with Maxim, he joked that although he had been in the business 60 years, his grandchildren ‘only knew [him] as Mr. Potato Head’.
Tim Allen, the voice of spaceman toy Buzz Lightyear, remembered Rickles on twitter, saying:
Don Rickles is one of the biggest reasons I am a comic today. I feel bad, mostly for everyone in Heaven who will now learn first hand from the sharpest wits ever, what it’s like to be Rickled.
As for Toy Story 4, Allen, Hanks, and Joan Cusack will be returning to voice Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and Jesse, respectively. Patricia Arquette is also signed on to voice an unnamed role. Look for the Toy Story 4 in theaters June 21, 2019.
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