Tom Hanks and Tim Allen Sign On for Toy Story 4

To infinity and beyond or, at least, back to the big screen. Disneyisreuniting Woody, Buzz Lightyear and company for Toy Story 4, which will hit theaters on June 16th, 2017. AsVarietyreports, the sequel will be directed by Pixar Animation Studios veteran John Lasseter who helmed the series first and second installments while Tom Hanks (as Woody) and Tim Allen (as Buzz) will reprise their distinctive voice roles.

Walt Disney Co. chairman Bob Iger announced the film to Wall Street analysts on Thursday, adding that Rashida Jones and Will McCormack (who co-wrote the 2012 indie romcomCeleste and Jesse Forever) will script the project. In a statement, Lasseter says that he was initially reluctant to re-open theToy Storyuniverse after the success of the third film, but he changed his mind after dreaming up a fresh story with Pixar collaborators Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter and Lee Unkrich.

We love these characters so much; they are like family to us, Lasseter says.We dont want to do anything with them unless it lives up to or surpasses whats gone before. Toy Story 3ended Woody and Buzzs story with Andy so perfectly that for a long time, we never even talked about doing another Toy Storymovie. 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.

Lasseter currently serves as chief creative officer at Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios and DisneyToon Studios. In addition to his work withthe Toy Story franchise, hes previously directed Pixar smashesCarsand Cars 2.