The Walt Disney Company’s Chairman and CEO Bob Iger today revealed during an earnings conference call that Toy Story 4 is on the way! John Lasseter, who directed the original and who now serves as Chief Creative Officer for all three of Disney’s animation studios, will direct!
Although officially unconfirmed at this time, it’s just about a certainty that Toy Story 4 will feature the return of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack and the rest of the hit franchise’s diverse voice talent.
Toy Story 3, released in 2010, grossed more than $1 billion worldwide. It has since been followed by a series of television specials continuing the adventures of Andy’s toys. Toy Story of TERROR! premiered last year while Toy Story That Time Forgot is set to air on December 2.
“We love these characters so much; they are like family to us,” says Lasseter. “We don’t want to do anything with them unless it lives up to or surpasses what’s gone before. ‘Toy Story 3’ ended Woody and Buzz’s story with Andy so perfectly that for a long time, we never even talked about doing another ‘Toy Story’ movie. But when Andrew, Pete, Lee, and I came up with this new idea, I just could not stop thinking about it. It was so exciting to me, I knew we had to make this movie — and I wanted to direct it myself.”
The script for Toy Story 4 will be provided by actors-turned-screenwriters Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, who previously penned and starred in Celeste and Jesse Forever. They’re working from a story idea by Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, and Lee Unkrich! Pixar’s Galyn Susman will produce.
