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Liam O'Dell
Feb 09, 2023
Related video: Toy Story 5 officially announced by Disney
Fox - LA/VideoElephant
Not content with toying with our emotions in four Toy Story films – pun very much intended – the beloved Disney/Pixar franchise is set to be one step closer to infinity and beyond with a fifth movie currently in development.
According to reports, Disney boss Bob Iger confirmed another sequel following the adventures of Woody and Buzz Lightyear during an earnings call on Wednesday.
Iger told investors: “Today I’m so pleased to announce that we have sequels in the works from our animation studios to some of our most popular franchises, Toy Story, Frozen and Zootopia.
“We’ll have more to share about these productions soon, but this is a great example of how we’re leaning into our unrivalled brands and franchises."
Zootopia was released back in 2016 and raked in more than $1 billion at the box office, and that same sum was achieved by both Frozen films – released in 2013 and 2019 respectively.
Toy Story, meanwhile, had a fourth instalment in 2019, before spin-off Lightyear (which, noticeably, did not cast original Buzz voice actor Tim Allen in the lead role, but Captain America actor Chris Evans) came out in 2022.
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However, not everyone’s sold on bringing back the franchise, with many arguing things were tied up nicely at the end of its third film – or fourth, at a stretch:
\u201cThe Toy Story toys finding out they have to come back for another movie:\u201d— Tom Zohar (@Tom Zohar) 1675895520
\u201cZootopia 2: Sure why not there's plenty more stories to tell in this universe\n\nFrozen 3: Surprisingly I don't mind this idea. If they take their time instead of rushing it out like 2, there's a lot of potential. I just won't look forward to it\n\nToy Story 5: Absolutely fucking not\u201d— Schaffrillas (@Schaffrillas) 1675916416
\u201cMe watching Disney\u2019s Toy Story 5, Frozen 3, and Zootopia 2 in theaters\u201d— BLURAYANGEL \ud83e\udd87 (@BLURAYANGEL \ud83e\udd87) 1675910268
\u201cZootopia 2 > Frozen 3 > Toy Story 5\u201d— Peef Spogdar (\u2e1c\u2044) (@Peef Spogdar (\u2e1c\u2044)) 1675911203
\u201cDisney need to let Toy Story go.\u201d— HOOD VOGUE is tired of poverty (@HOOD VOGUE is tired of poverty) 1675898261
\u201cThere does not need to be a Toy Story 5. Them toys have been through ENOUGH!!\u201d— Sabby (@Sabby) 1675931343
\u201cThis is the ending of Toy Story for me...\u201d— Edge \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Edge \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1675930880
\u201cToy Story 3 was the perfect ending to the trilogy, closing the book on Andy's childhood\n\nToy Story 4 was a fine epilogue, allowing Woody to relinquish being the surrogate dad of the group and realise he could live his own life without worrying\n\nYou do not need to make Toy Story 5\u201d— Casey Evans (@Casey Evans) 1675940775
Others pointed out that in the same call, away from all the buzz (sorry) around a new Toy Story sequel, the company is set to cut 7,000 jobs to improve its finances and take a “more cost-effective, co-ordinated approach” to running the business:
\u201cabsurdly bleak that Disney does a massive worker layoff and everyone is just talking about the fifth toy story sequel instead\u201d— Carl (@Carl) 1675924316
\u201cBastards laid me off TWICE.\n\nIt\u2019s what they do.\n\nThose 7000 employees need jobs more than the world needs \u201cToy Story 5.\u201d\u201d— Greg Baldwin (@Greg Baldwin) 1675904749
\u201c"Hey guys we're making Toy Story 5 please ignore this"\u201d— danny \ud83d\udd1c ECCC N-05 (@danny \ud83d\udd1c ECCC N-05) 1675898772
Not exactly “You’ve Got A Friend in Me”, Bob, is it?
Already, Allen has shared his thoughts on the Disney announcement, writing on Twitter: “See ya soon Woody, you are a sad strange little man and you have my pity.
“And off we go to a number 5! To infinity and beyond!”
While it’s unclear if Allen will be back, it’s widely expected veteran actor Tom Hanks will reprise the role of Woody.
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