Disney reveals Toy Story 4's surprising premise with the first trailer

Disney's first Toy Story 4 trailer forecasts even more horrifying existential questions about the life of a toy.

The new footage, released by Disney on Monday, reintroduces fans to the gang, joined hand-in-hand in front of that familiar cloudy blue sky backdrop. But after we see Buzz, Woody, Jesse, and the rest, suddenly there's a new character in the mix: a talking spork, which is clearly homemade and not off store shelves like every other toy in the series. This character, voiced by Arrested Development's Tony Hale, freaks out and screams that he doesn't belong there, declaring that he isn't even a toy at all.

Disney has also released an official plot synopsis for the film. "When Bonnie adds a reluctant new toy called 'Forky' to her room," it reads, "a road trip adventure alongside old and new friends will show Woody how big the world can be for a toy." After the last movie, once thought to be the end of the series, addressed toys' mortality, this one looks set to delve into whether toys that kids make themselves could be sentient as well, also examining how they fit in with store-bought toys. Filmmakers were reportedly considering making the next installment an adventure to find Bo Peep, but after extensive rewrites, it appears the idea was abandoned in favor of a new castmate.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Toy Story 4 will hit theaters on June 21st. Watch the teaser trailer below. Brendan Morrow