'Toy Story 4' Coming in 2017, John Lasseter Directing with Tom Hanks and Tim Allen Returning

Toy Story fans rejoice, because the characters you love so much from this Pixar franchise are coming back. During an investor call, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced that Toy Story 4 is coming our way in 2017 (via Collider). John Lasseter, who directed the first two installments, is returning to the directing chair with Tom Hanks and Tim Allen expected to also return and reprise their roles as Woody and Buzz Lightyear. Rashida Jones and Will McCormack will write the script, from a story by John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich , Andrew Stanton and Pete Docter. Lasseter said the following in a statement:

 "We love these characters so much; they are like family to us. 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."

I am having mixed feelings about this news. On one hand, I love this franchise and these characters so much that I am incredibly excited to see them again. But on the other hand, I feel that everything ended so perfectly to me in Toy Story 3 that I am a little nervous as to where they are going with this new film. In the end, the truth is that I have complete faith in John Lasseter, and reading his comments about how excited he is about this story they came up with and even wanting to direct himself is a great sign of what is to come. It seems like a long wait, but hopefully taking the time will translate into making a great film. Toy Story 4 will hit theaters on June 16th, 2017.