Disney announces 'Toy Story 4' for June 2017, directed by Lasseter

Published November 7, 2014 6:49am

LOS ANGELES - Walt Disney Co will extend one of Pixar's most successful film franchises with the release of "Toy Story 4" in 2017 and will bring back John Lasseter to direct.

"John created 'Toy Story' and directed its first two films and it's great to have him back directing one of our most valuable properties," Disney chief executive Bob Iger said on an earnings call.

The film will open a new chapter in the lives of Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the “Toy Story” gang. The story was dreamt up by Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter and Lee Unkrich, the storytellers who have been the driving force behind all three “Toy Story” films.

“We love these characters so much; they are like family to us,” said 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.”

Writing team Rashida Jones and Will McCormack (“Celeste and Jesse Forever”) joined the project, and Pixar veteran Galyn Susman (ABC’s “Toy Story OF TERROR!” and “Toy Story that Time Forgot”) will be producing.

The film is slated for release on June 16, 2017. — Reuters

Tags: toystory, toystory4