In an unexpected move, Walt Disney Company chairman Bob Iger announced plans today for a follow-up to the successful Disney/Pixar Toy Story trilogy.
The announcement took most by surprise, as principals behind the first three films in the franchise have been noted as saying there were no plans for future installments. However, it does seem like a no-brainer from a business standpoint, as Toy Story 3 earned more that $1 billion worldwide during its 2010 release. In fact, it was the top-grossing animated release in history until it was eclipsed by 2014’s Frozen.
Creatively, fans will be happy to hear of Lasseter’s direct involvement in the new movie. Lasseter currently holds the title of CEO of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, and has long been thought of as the main creative force behind Pixar. He won a Special Achievement Academy Award for the technical advancements in 1995’s Toy Story, and he directed the first two films in the series. He’s also known for his directing work on A Bug’s Life and the Cars franchise.
Lasseter is also an executive producer on this weekend’s new release Big Hero 6 and 2015’s Pixar feature Inside Out.
Toy Story 4 is set to hit theaters in June 2017. Exactly which beloved characters will be returning, and what new characters Pixar may have in store for us, we will just have to wait and see.
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