The Disney/Pixar union threw up a surprise this week when it was announced to employees that Toy Story 3 would cease production.
The project was in the fledgling stages, with a script that saw the entire toy cupboard rush to the aid of Tim Allen’s space ranger hero Buzz Lightyear, who is recalled to Taiwan due to a malfunction.
President of the new Pixar and Disney animation studios Ed Catmull and Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter underlined the fact that sequels should only be made if a story demands it and should be the domain of those who created the original film. All work on the follow-up flick ceased on Tuesday.
Featuring the vocal talents of Allen, Tom Hanks and Joan Cusack - the animated tales followed the lives of the inhabitants of a ten year old boy’s toy box, who come alive whenever humans are out of sight. Toy Story, released in 1995, raked in $357 million at the box office and its sequel hoovered up $486 million.
Word has it that Lasseter may still return to the project if he can reunite the creative team that made the first two movies such bankable successes.
