Every franchise, especially one as long-running as Toy Story, has its own list of fan theories. Now, the filmmakers behind Toy Story 4 are responding to some of the more popular fan theories about the popular franchise.
Vanity Fair posted a video on YouTube featuring Toy Story 4 director Josh Cooley and producer Mark Nielsen answering some of these theories, several of which revolve around Andy's absent father.
The first theory relating to Andy's father hypothesized that he died before the films began. This user explained that both Woody and Buzz are Andy's favorite toys because they fill the void of a missing father figure in his life. Nielsen explained the reason why fans may feel this way is because Woody was intentionally written to play a father figure to Andy. The two creators pitched several reasons why Andy's father may be missing, including the possibility that he may be in witness protection, though Cooley points out that it's more important to the films that Woody plays the father figure.
They then address SyFy.com's theory that both Woody and Buzz may represent Andy's dad and stepdad. However, Cooley and Nielsen counter that if Andy had a stepfather, he would be more present in the films. Another fun theory points out that a toolbox from Tim Taylor's fictional company "Binford" in the Tool Time series appears in the first film, claiming that Tool Time and Toy Story both belong in the same universe. While the two joke about a quick theory that Tim Taylor could possibly be Andy's father, they state the toolbox was just a nod to Tim Allen.
Cooley and Nielsen end the video by urging fans to continue posting their theories for the films.
Directed by Josh Cooley, Toy Story 4 stars Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Keanu Reeves, Annie Potts, Don Rickles, Estelle Harris, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Jeff Pidgeon, Blake Clark, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele and Tony Hale. The film arrives on Digital HD Oct. 1 and on Blu-ray and 4K UHD Oct. 8.