Taylor Swift‘s connection with the Toy Story franchise has turned into an unexpected musical collaboration, with the singer writing an original song for the fifth installment. Director Andrew Stanton recently opened up about how the collaboration came together, revealing that a private screening, a FaceTime call, and an unexpected visit from Disney CEO Bob Iger all played a part.
‘Toy Story 5’ Director Recalls How Taylor Swift Came to Write the Song in the Movie
In a recent conversation with Deadline, Andrew Stanton recalled how the team first approached Taylor Swift about contributing a song to Toy Story 5.
The filmmakers reached out through the proper channels around a year and a half before the movie’s release, but Swift was busy with her Eras Tour. Stanton was unsure whether the request had even reached the singer beyond her brother, Austin Swift.
Eventually, Taylor got back to the team and expressed her interest in the project. According to Stanton, Austin told them that his sister loved the Toy Story films. She then watched an early version of the movie at a private screening with her brother and contacted the director through FaceTime straight from the theater.
Swift reportedly told the team, “I want to do the song.” Stanton revealed that the song came together quickly, with Swift writing and recording it alongside longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff.
The director also recalled receiving a FaceTime call from Bob Iger, who was standing beside Swift in the studio and wanted to share his reaction to the track. Stanton joked that she had even convinced the Disney CEO to leave his house and drive down to the studio.
When the director finally heard “I Knew It, I Knew You” placed in the film, he felt an immediate connection between the song and Jessie, the cowgirl character voiced by Joan Cusack. “When [‘I Knew It, I Knew You’] was placed in the film, and I had heard it, it felt like kismet. It felt like Jessie’s voice,” Stanton recalled.
The song, written and produced by Swift and Antonoff, draws inspiration from Jessie’s journey while bringing Swift back to her country music roots.
