Off the back of Disney’s announcement that Toy Story 5 is in development, many fans of the beloved Pixar franchise are taking to social media to question the impetus behind the decision. Starring the vocal talents of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, 1995’s original Toy Story was the first ever wholly computer-animated feature film, as well as the first movie-length project produced by Pixar Animation Studios. Widely praised by critics and earning itself a swathe of award nominations, Toy Story would go on to gross over $374 million in worldwide box office and spawn three direct sequels, as well as last year’s spinoff film Lightyear, featuring Chris Evans as the in-universe fictional character that inspired the toy voiced by Allen.
Now Disney, which first acquired Pixar in 2006, seems set to continue the franchise, with Toy Story 5 announced by CEO Bob Iger at the company’s latest quarterly earnings call. Yet despite the Toy Story films holding a special place in many viewers’ hearts, not everyone is enthused about the possibility of a new sequel. Taking to social media in droves, viewers who grew up with the original films are questioning the need for another, with many accusing the studio of engaging in a blatant cash grab. Check out just some of the responses below:
Why The Idea Of Toy Story 5 Is So Controversial
With the Toy Story films raking in an impressive $3.3 billion in worldwide box office, the reasoning behind Disney’s decision to greenlight another sequel is clear. While last year’s Lightyear spinoff film failed to generate even a fraction of the $1 billion box-office takings enjoyed by 2010’s Toy Story 3 and 2019’s Toy Story 4, the studio still seems to think there is potential in returning to the franchise’s roots. Allen, the original voice of Buzz Lightyear, has already expressed his enthusiasm for the project and hinted at his character’s return alongside Woody.
While there are still some Disney fans who would be more than happy to see their favorite talking toys return to theaters, others are quick to point out the series has already provided viewers with a natural finale. Or rather, two natural finales, with Toy Story 3 and Toy Story 4 each reaching satisfactory conclusions to the characters’ assorted arcs. In the 2010 film, the cycle of the toys’ relationship with their owner Andy was started anew by being placed into the care of a new child, Bonnie. Then, 2019’s entry went one step further by providing Woody with his own happy ending alongside Bo Peep, handing his sheriff’s badge off to Jessie.
Any attempt at picking up after the events of Toy Story 4 runs the risk of diminishing the emotional impact of those two conclusions, especially if the story involves seeing Buzz and Woody reunite. With many people already accusing the last film of being a largely unnecessary addition to the franchise, this announcement probably raises more questions than answers. Of course, with the IP proving itself one of Disney’s most profitable assets, no doubt they will try their best to ensure that Toy Story 5 captures the hearts, imaginations, and hard-earned dollars of their movie-going audience.
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