by: S. Scott Stanikmas

Get ready to dust off the toy box and have some fun! Disney has officially announced that Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie and all your favorites will be coming back for Toy Story 4.

The upcoming installment is set to be directed by the man who directed the first two Toy Story films, John Lasseter. It will be based upon a story by Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter and Lee Unkrich, the braintrust behind the stories of the first three movies in the franchise. Joining the story team will be Rashida Jones and Will McCormack.

I love the Toy Story films. They speak to so many people on so many levels, especially number three which sees a grown-up Andy give his toys to a good home and a child with just as vivid an imagination as he had. I think it came at a time when many fans of the original film were coming of that age when it’s time to move on in life and put away childhood for adulthood.

The third film ended on a good note which could have been the finish for the franchise but it also left it open in case the team ever did want to revisit the Toy Story universe.

Lasseter has stated that he loves these characters like family and that after the third film they didn’t know if there would be anymore. But as soon as he and the other three story writers came up with the idea for the fourth film he became extremely excited and knew that he wanted to direct it himself.

Disney has announced a release date of June 16th 2017.