Get prepared, Toy Story fans! The beloved Pixar franchise is coming back with a bang, as Toy Story 5 is officially in the performs, and they’ve located their director — a key franchise veteran, Andrew Stanton. The news is confident to excite fans who have been eagerly waiting for updates due to the fact Disney CEO Bob Iger’s announcement in early 2023. Pixar exec Pete Docter has teased that the sequel will be “surprising” and is set for a June 19, 2026, release date, and at a current screening of Inside Out 2, Docter shared some thrilling updates about Pixar’s upcoming projects, like Toy Story 5, exactly where he revealed Stanton’s part in the film. The announcement that Tim Allen will return as Buzz Lightyear was a pleasant surprise, although we’re nonetheless waiting for confirmation on regardless of whether Tom Hanks will reprise his part as Woody.

The Toy Story series has received universal acclaim across all 4 of its films. The original Toy Story (1995) set the bar higher with groundbreaking animation and heartfelt storytelling, earning a ideal score on Rotten Tomatoes. Toy Story 2 (1999) continued this trend, frequently thought of 1 of the ideal sequels ever created. Toy Story 3 (2010) brought the trilogy to an emotionally satisfying conclusion, praised for its mature themes and winning an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Finally, Toy Story 4 (2019) maintained the series’ higher requirements with its wonderful animation and fitting epilogue to the saga.

Who Is Andrew Stanton?

Stanton is no stranger to the Toy Story universe. He’s been with Pixar due to the fact the starting, co-writing the script for the original Toy Story and its 1999 and 2019 sequels. Not to mention, he also helped create the story for Toy Story 3 and executive created the Lightyear spin-off. Stanton’s resume does not quit there — he created his directorial debut with Finding Nemo and went on to direct WALL-E and Finding Dory. His function on Finding Nemo and WALL-E even won him Oscars for Best Animated Feature.

Stanton’s return is extra than just a nostalgic nod, it shows that Pixar gets how critical this film is for them. His deep understanding of the Toy Story universe and his constant inventive vision guarantee that this new installment will capture the magic that has created the series a beloved classic for decades. Stanton’s capability to blend humor, emotion, and adventure is precisely what Toy Story 5 requirements to captivate each old fans and new viewers.

Stay tuned to Collider for all the most recent updates on Toy Story 5 and other thrilling Pixar projects. The journey to infinity and beyond continues, and we can not wait to see what’s subsequent for our preferred toys. In the meantime, you can watch all preceding Toy Story motion pictures on Disney+.

Toy Story 4

When a new toy named “Forky” joins Woody and the gang, a road trip alongside old and new good friends reveals how major the globe can be for a toy.

Release Date

June 21, 2019

Director

Josh Cooley

Runtime

100 minutes

Writers

John Lasseter , Andrew Stanton , Pete Docter , Lee Unkrich , Will McCormack , Stephany Folsom

Watch on Disney+