Last November, during Disney’s quarterly earnings call Bob Iger stunned audiences with the news that John Lasseter would return to the director’s chair to create, Toy Story 4. The film, releasing on June 16, 2017, was pulled together by none other than Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, Lee Unkrich, and John Lasseter – who were the driving force between the first three Toy Story features.
We love these characters so much; they are like family to us. 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.
John Lasseter
Back on February 23, one of our amazing Pixar Post Forum users, Maxxie03 shared the news of an interview between the official Disney Latino Blog and President of Pixar, Jim Morris. During the interview, Morris answers questions spanning from Pixar’s next feature film, Inside Out to daily life at Pixar – along with one question referencing the production of Toy Story 4. The article is written in Spanish and we have translated the section regarding Toy Story 4 below.
What stage of production is currently Toy Story 4?
“We are table reading these days. Usually, after working on the idea with the team of story artists and writers who complete the script, we call Pixar employees or external actors to sit and conduct a reading of the script. It is evolving very well. We are putting together a very nice story. It is not a continuation of the end of the story of Toy Story 3 (temporarily it is), but it will be a love story. It will be a romantic comedy. It will not have much focus on the interaction between the characters and children. I think it will be a very good movie.”
“Honestly, we thought we might not make another film Toy Story, but in a brainstorming session we did, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, Lee Unkrich, and John Lasseter had this idea – John felt the need to do it. The third movie was over in a beautiful way and completed a trilogy. I think this movie is not part of that trilogy. It is a separate story, which in turn we do not know if it will be continued. Never begin a project with that in mind.”
Many of the details from Jim’s comments were known from the initial announcement back in November 2014 – but the new elements are that the story is not a continuation of Toy Story 3 and that the film will be a romantic comedy (previously just known as a love story). Additionally, we hadn’t known that the movie won’t have a lot of focus on the interaction between the characters and children.
Be sure to join in the conversation with other Pixar fans on this topic and more on the Pixar Post Forum. Another question that has been coming up is – should this be called Toy Story 4 if it’s not a continuation of the previous film? What are your thoughts?
Well, a romantic comedy? Hmmm. I guess I won't know how much I like it 'til I see it. You keep telling everyone not to worry, so that must mean everything will be fine. The Toy Story Toons have been entertaining. This piece of news has certainly sparked my suspense about the new film! Can't wait to see all the old friends in the toy gang again when it comes out, and in a new adventure.
Excellent points…and great attitude about the movie. So many people are so down on the movie. I just keep reminding people that many were disappointed when TS3 was announced and look at the reaction to that film! 🙂
Yes, I do think Toy Story 4 is a normal title because this is still the same world. We're with the same characters and I don't think they are on a new journey. The only difference is that Andy is no longer in the picture. This is a sequel, it's not a reboot or a spinoff or an alternate universe. However, Pixar would not reuse the same genre for another sequel, so I feel they can still call it \”4\” while it is not exactly the same in tone as the previous films. I definitely didn't think the first three films all shared the exact same feel. Toy Story 2 was a bit more comedic and light-hearted, and Toy Story 3 got for really dark and also sentimental. This new one will likely be intimate and coming-of-age for the toy in newfound love (Woody, I'm pretty sure, possibly). I'm really glad they're making this movie, I needed this!