Is Toy Story 4 Taking the Series in a Very Different Direction?

Teased for some time, Walt Disney Pictures officially announced late last year that Toy Story 4 is on the way. Today, Pixar Animation Studios President Jim Morris has a bit of an update, speaking with Disney Latino (via /Film) about the highly-anticipated sequel. There’s just one caveat: Morris’ comments have been translated from Spanish and, as such, may have found their meaning somewhat altered. According to him, however, it seems that Toy Story 4 is planned as a very different film from the first three Toy Story movies.

“The third movie ended in a beautiful way and completed a trilogy,” says Morris. “I think this movie is not part of this trilogy. It is a separate story… It is not a continuation of the end of the story of ‘Toy Story 3′.’ Temporarily it is, but it will be a love story. It will be a romantic comedy. It will not put much focus on the interaction between the characters and children.”

Whatever the idea for Toy Story 4 is, it sounds like its aiming to be something original.

“‘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,” said John Lasseter on the project’s original announcement. “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.?”

The script for Toy Story 4 will be provided by actors-turned-screenwriters Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, who previously penned and starred in Celeste and Jesse Forever. They’re working from a story idea by Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, and Lee Unkrich! Pixar’s Galyn Susman will produce. 

Although officially unconfirmed at this time, it’s just about a certainty that Toy Story 4 will feature the return of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack and the rest of the hit franchise’s diverse voice talent.