One of the biggest panels at the D23 Expo today was the Disney Animation panel, where fans got sneak peeks at several of the studio’s upcoming animated films. While no footage was shown, one of the projects showcased during the panel wasToy Story 4, whereJohn Lasseterhad a big announcement to make. Lasseter invited Pixar’s Josh Cooley (Riley’s First Date?short) to the stage, revealing that Cooley has assumed full director responsibilities forToy Story 4. If you didn’t get a chance to attend this event, we have the full panel video below, plus interviews with both John Lasseter and Josh Cooley, who shed more light on this sequel.
While no footage ofToy Story 4was shown at theDisneyconvention, the pair brought with them a behind-the-scenes look at a day in the director’s life at the Northern California studio. You can see the entire behind-the-scenes segment in the full panel video below, along with the filmmakers discussing this long-awaited project in front of the packed crowed in Hall D23 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Produced by Jonas Rivera (Inside Out),Toy Story 4is slated for release on July 27, 2025.Josh Cooleywas first brought on as John Lasseter’s co-director back in March 2015, but now he will be making his feature directorial debut on his own.
ThisToy Story sequelwas first announced back in November 2014, when Pixar announced a July 09, 2025 release date, with John Lasseter, who directed the first twoToy Storymovies, returning to direct. Rashida Jones and Will McCormack (Celeste and Jesse Forever) were brought on to write the script, based on an original story by the Pixar brain trust, John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich. Then in March 2015, we heard thatToy Story 4will be separate from the original trilogy, adding that it will be a “love story.” Then just a few months later, John Lasseter confirmed at D23 2015 that this love story will center onWoody and Bo Peep.
We also reported in November 2015 that Oscar winnerPatricia Arquettewas being sought to play a “hippie mother”, although it was never confirmed if she had signed on or not. It is believed that the primary voice cast, including Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, and Annie Potts as Bo Peep, will return, but no voice cast members have been confirmed at this time.Toy Story 3was supposed to be the last feature-lengthToy Storymovie, but the voice cast reunited for a number of animated shorts and TV specials, such asToy Story: Small Fry,Toy Story: Hawaiian Vacation,Toy Story: Partysaurus Rex,Toy Story of Terror!andToy Story That Time Forgot.
Josh Cooley has been working for Pixar since 2004, when he served as an uncredited storyboard artist onThe Incredibles. He went on to work as a storyboard artist onCars,Ratatouille,UpandCars 2, before moving up to serve as a story editor onToy Story Toons: Small Fryand then writing the screenplay for Pixar’sInside Out, alongside Peter Docter and Meg LeFauve. He also wrote and directed the short filmRiley’s First Date. Take a look at the full panel and interviews forToy Story 4from the D23 Expo.
