Your first look at Toy Story 4 stars Tony Hale as a spork having an existential crisis
Toy Story 3 provided a pretty definitive ending to one of the most beloved animated series in history, and so its upcoming fourth installment has set its sights on a whole new narrative built around new toys, new locations, and new characters. To wit: This teaser, which leans heavily on the nostalgic sight of Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Bo Peep, Mr. Potato Head, and so on. The whole gang is skipping in a beatific circle and gazing at each other with love before some new spork, eyes wide in existential terror, freaks out and ruins everything. Director Josh Cooley provides a bit of context in a press release:
“The world of Toy Story is built upon the idea that everything in the world has a purpose,” said Cooley. “A toy’s purpose is to be there for its child. But what about toys that are made out of other objects? Forky is a toy that Bonnie made out of a disposable spork, so he’s facing a crisis. He wants to fulfill his purpose as a spork, but now has a new toy purpose thrust upon him.”
Anyway, they couldn’t have picked a better voice for Forky: It’s Tony Hale, patron saint of nervous wrecks everywhere. You can watch all of his neuroses laid bare anew when the movie comes out on June 21 next year.