Toy Story fans are “buzzing” as the fourth movie finally gets a release date, but there’s a bit of a wait. Woody, Buzz and friends are scheduled to return to the big screen on June 21st, 2019 — a little over a month after the release of the still untitled Avengers 4, which Disney also owns.
It has been previously reported that Toy Story 4 will not be a direct sequel to the third instalment. Toy Story 3 saw the beloved toys get passed down to a new child, Bonnie, and as previously mentioned, many fans believed that the third instalment was a good way to leave the franchise as it provided the perfect closure.
OH MY GOSH – Toy Story 4 finally gets a release date!! June 21, 2019. Will you be watching?! 😍😍 #ToyStory4 pic.twitter.com/39MuJpGmvR
— lipstiqdotcom (@lipstiqdotcom) April 9, 2018
Instead, Toy Story 4 is rumoured to focus on the romance between sheriff Woody and Bo Peep, who was noticeably absent from the third movie. The latest toy adventure will more than likely not have anything to do with the events of the previous sequel.
The July 2019 release gives filmmakers a little over a year to complete a film that recently confronted some controversy. Pixar head John Lasseter took a six month leave of absence beginning in January following sexual misconduct allegations.
That also meant he had to step back from directing Toy Story 4 (he previously helmed the original and second films), after which he was replaced by Josh Cooley (voice actor and writer of Inside Out).
Around the same time, screenwriters Rashida Jones and Will McCormack left the project, citing “creative and, more importantly, philosophical differences.” In a statement, they noted that Pixar fosters “a culture where women and people of color do not have an equal creative voice.”
[Source]