More Info on TOY STORY 4: Exact Release Date, Why Lasseter Is Directing, Rashida Jones Part of the Writing Team

Disney CEO Bob Iger announced on Thursday that Toy Story 4 was coming in June 2017, but he didn't offer much more than the fact that John Lasseter will direct the movie. Thanks to the Disney Insider site, we now have more info about the upcoming Toy Story sequel.

While Lasseter will return to direct Toy Story 4 (he directed Toy Story and Toy Story 2), Toy Story 3 director Lee Unkrich was part of the story team that included himself, Lasseter, Finding Nemo director Andrew Stanton and Up director Pete Docter in charge of dreaming up the movie's story.

"We love these characters so much; they are like family to us," Lasseter told Disney Insider. "We don't want to do anything with them unless it lives up to or surpasses what's gone before. Toy Story 3 ended Woody and Buzz's story with Andy so perfectly that for a long time, we never even talked about doing another Toy Story movie. 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."

In addition to Lasseter, Unkrich, Stanton and Docter, Toy Story 4 will be written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack. The duo wrote Celeste and Jesse forever, and — yes — this is the same Rashida Jones who starred in Parks and Recreation.

Toy Story 4 will open on June 16, 2017.