Toy Story 2 was one of the very rare examples of a sequel being just as good (if not better) than its predecessor. The film also helped legitimize Pixar as a forerunner in cinema, paving the way for the long line of success the studio has experienced over the past two decades. When Toy Story 3 was announced, skepticism was justifiable, especially when Pixar demonstrated its ability to craft standalone films that explored new concepts in entertaining and financially successful ways; it just seemed unnecessary to tap into the Toy Story well once more. While the film was a pleasant surprise and offered closure to those of us that grew up with Toy Story and Pixar, it wasn’t at the same level of quality that the previous two films were.
Fast forward four years and Pixar has released two more property revisits (Cars 2 and Monsters University), illustrating the studio’s willingness to return to established properties alongside new properties (Brave). With 2014 a rare non-Pixar year and 2015 receiving not one but two new offerings (Inside-Out and The Good Dinosaur), 2014 was ripe for some exciting news. During a recent investor call, Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed that Toy Story 4 is scheduled for release in 2017 with Toy Story 2 and 3 director John Lasseter returning.
With Lasseter returning, Toy Story 4 could recapture that special “something” that Toy Story 3 was lacking under the helm of Lee Unkrich. However, I’m wary about the idea of a third Toy Story sequel. While I love the franchise and its characters, I worry about overexposure and how it could negatively affect its legacy. At the same time, under Lasseter’s guise, Toy Story 4 could bring the proper closure that Toy Story 3 didn’t. How do you all feel about the news?
[via Collider]