The long-awaited project from Pixar was first announced four years ago in 2014, with the original intention for the film to hit theaters sometime in the summer of 2017. However, as the sequel made its way through development, it was pushed back a number of times for unknown reasons. Well, now we may have some insight as to why it was pushed back, thanks to an interview with actress Annie Potts, who is returning to the franchise after not being asked to return in
Toy Story 3.
In the
Radio Times interview over the weekend, Potts divulged upon her involvement with the upcoming installment of the extremely popular franchise. She stated that Pixar threw out
"three-quarters" of the script, which led to the film having to swap release dates with next week's
Incredibles 2.
“[Toy Story 4] was supposed to come out this year and then they threw out three-quarters of it and rewrote. Usually, it takes – from start to finish – two years. But because they threw most of it in the bin and started over [my time on the project has] been extended a little bit. I’ve done a lot of work on it.”
She went on to say “They’re funny those Pixar people. They just take their time. It’s very painstaking work. If they don’t like whole sections then they just chuck it and start over again. They have that great creative liberty to do that.”
Potts also said that at one point she was under the impression that her role had been cut completely from Toy Story 4, or she assumed the entire project had been cancelled. “I didn’t hear from them in a year and a half,” she said. Despite almost the entirety of the script being re-written, the actress hinted that the plot former Pixar CEO John Lasseter teased almost four years ago (a "love story" between Bo Peep and Woody) would still make it into the film.
As of right now, Toy Story 4 is secured in Pixar's June 2019 slot - a release date that director Josh Cooley re-confimed a couple of months ago. Other than that, no word has been mentioned on the project in quite some time. Original writers Rashida Jones and Will McCormack left the project last fall, causing the initial script re-writes and animation re-workings.
How do you feel about these delays? Are you glad Pixar and Co. are taking their time on this project?
Let us know in the comments section below!
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