For three decades, Tom Hanks and Tim Allen have been Hollywood's favorite animated partners, yet they have never shared the screen in live action. The pair have just reunited as Woody and Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 5, proving their chemistry remains as effortless as ever. That made Allen's latest pitch even more irresistible: a buddy cop movie starring both actors instead of two beloved toys.

The public has already trusted them with toys. They would probably trust Hanks and Allen to arrest the villains too, provided neither arrives dressed as Buzz or Woody.

Speaking with MovieWeb, Tim Allen revealed that one surprising milestone still eludes Hollywood's most beloved voice-acting duo. Despite decades of playing Woody and Buzz Lightyear, Allen and Tom Hanks have never actually acted together in the same room. Hanks explained that the pair even pitched ideas to change that, hoping to find the right project.

"But the audience would go, 'Why do I know these two?'" Allen said, explaining the unique fun behind any live-action collaboration. Rather than revisiting animated icons, Allen envisioned two entirely new characters. Detectives, firefighters, or everyday heroes would let their natural chemistry shine without relying on familiar costumes.

As Allen told MovieWeb, the concept was never about recreating Toy Story in human form. Instead, the appeal came from watching two recognizable performers bounce off each other while audiences slowly connected the dots. Allen believed their shared history would become part of the fun rather than the premise itself.

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While fans debate whether to revisit every Toy Story film before the newest installment and dream of a live-action reunion for its iconic duo, Hollywood's history suggests the latter might not be such a far-fetched fantasy.

Hollywood has already proved that beloved voice partners can thrive well beyond the recording booth. Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane first charmed audiences as Simba and Timon in The Lion King. Later, they carried that effortless chemistry onto Broadway and the big screen with The Producers, proving familiar voices can become unforgettable faces.

Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray followed a different route but reached the same destination. Their unforgettable pairing in Lost in Translation came before both voiced memorable animals in The Jungle Book, showing that great screen partners can effortlessly move between live-action performances and voice acting without losing an ounce of their magic.

Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy built the gold standard for Batman and the Joker through voice acting before appearing together in Comic Book: The Movie. Those partnerships prove audiences happily follow great duos across formats, making Tim Allen and Tom Hanks' long-awaited live-action team-up feel less like wishful thinking and more like unfinished business.

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Would you like to see Tom Hanks and Tim Allen in a live-action movie? Let us know in the comments!