'Toy Story 4' Gets a Major Director Change

08/31/2017 04:23 pm EDT

During Disney's D23 Expo animation panel, fans got a look at the first details of Toy Story 4 - including an answer to the big question: who will direct the film?

It was revealed by Disney/Pixar Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter that Josh Cooley will director Toy Story 4 - alone. It was previously announced that Laseter would be working with Cooley in a co-direction capacity, but that has now changed, apparently.

Cooley has worked in the Disney-Pixar art department on several films (The Incredible, Cars, Ratatouille, Up) and even voiced the character of Jangles the Clown in Inside Out.

Having the relatively unknown Cooley directing this flagship Pixar franchise without the help of the much more experienced Lasseter is going to be a big deal for Toy Story fans. At the same time, Disney/Pixar clearly must have confidence in Cooley to hand him the keys.

In a show of confidence and support, Disney/Pixar posted the official director change announcement from Lasseter on its official Twitter page. See below.

Toy Story 4 will be released in theaters on June 21, 2019.

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