After Toy Story 4 was announced, many of the series' fans were wondering if a fourth sequel was even necessary. The ending of Toy Story 3, where Andy leaves his toys with Bonnie, a young girl who will appreciate and play with them like Andy did when he was a little boy, is considered by most to be a perfect emotional capstone to the franchise, and any sequels might tarnish that ideal ending.
But Pixar has just revealed that Toy Story 4 won't be a direct sequel to Toy Story 3; instead, it'll be a separate film and a "romantic comedy" that has very little to do with the relationship between toys and humans, and will be written by Parks and Recreation star Rashida Jones. Pixar President Jim Morris revealed this surprising news:
"Usually, after working on the idea with the team of stories and writers who complete their 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 focus much on the interaction between the characters and children. I think it will be a very good movie."
But if the film is a romantic comedy... then the toys have to fall in love, right? Or at least two toys, anyway. Who might those toys be? The obvious answers might be Woody and Bo Peep, or Buzz Lightyear and Jessie. Maybe even Barbie and Ken, or Rex and Trixie (the triceratops from Toy Story 3). Or what about Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head? There's a surprisingly long list of couples in the Toy Story franchise, and possible romantic leads for the next film.
Or maybe, given that it's been stated that Toy Story 4 will have little to do with the last film, the main characters might be new toys we've never seen before (but in that case... why even call it Toy Story?).
Whatever happens with the sequel, Toy Story 4 will premiere on June 16, 2017.
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