Twitter experienced a brief outage just after Disney announced its continuation of three major film franchises: “Toy Story 5”, “Frozen 3” and “Zootopia 2”. The announcements come just months after Bob Iger returned as Disney’s CEO. Fans had no ability to immediately react to the news, as Twitter experienced a brief outage.
Toy Story 5 is officially in the works at @Disney. pic.twitter.com/mqyoAM2I2i
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) February 8, 2023
The Frozen 3 and Toy Story 5 announcement broke Twitter
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 8, 2023
While fans were excited for the return of their favorite franchises, others criticized the return of the Toy Story series. The first installment was released in 1995, and the most recent in 2019. After a heartfelt ending in the third film, in which the toy’s owner Andy grows up, many felt that it was just the closure they needed. The fourth film was met with mixed reviews, but was a critical success.
Me, the Toy Story super fan, after learning that Toy Story 5 is happening. pic.twitter.com/YkRDwAE06l
— Cam Hawkins ✌???????? @ PAX West (@CamFinalMix) February 8, 2023
Toy Story 5….we need to get rid of these toys! pic.twitter.com/6DiThjDLD1
— miles! (@sillyabtspiders) February 8, 2023
Some felt that the endings of each movie were too powerful to continue the franchise.
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Toy Story 4 was my least favorite film in the franchise. Toy Story 1-3 was such a wonderful trilogy. I don't even want to think about a Toy Story 5.
— Ashley Carter (@AshleyLCarter1) February 9, 2023
There is going to be a Toy Story 5, I don't know how many endings to these toys I can emotionally handle.
— Thomas Sanders (@ThomasSanders) February 8, 2023
Fans were more excited about the return of the newer Frozen franchise. At the end of the last film, Anna (Kristen Bell) accepts Kristoff’s (Jonathan Groff) marriage proposal, and Elsa (Idina Menzel) goes to fulfill her destiny, but is still single. Some fans are hoping that the third film includes some romance for Elsa.
frozen 3 is officially in the works so let elsa and honeymaren kiss pic.twitter.com/hCMp7Or57k
— sapphics like (@sapphicslike) February 8, 2023
As for Zootopia, fans already began to cast their votes about who the potential musical guest could be. The first film features Shakira as Gazelle.
who's making the next cameo in zootopia 2 pic.twitter.com/lEMPtvEJgt
— Pop Culture Posts (@notgwendalupe) February 8, 2023
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Aside from the more well known film franchise sequels, Disney also announced nine unnamed films on their slate for the year.
Iger announced Disney is working on sequels for Toy Story, Frozen, and Zootopia.
Now… about those UNTITLED PIXAR and UNTITLED DISNEY movies from a few weeks ago…https://t.co/kHf9AAERvQ
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) February 8, 2023
Elder Gen Z and Millennial fans who were children when the original films in the franchises were released cracked jokes about being the oldest ones in the theater (and with no regrets).
Me watching Toy Story 5, Zootopia 2, Frozen 3, Inside Out 2. pic.twitter.com/zv3jE1BaMf
— Austin (@AustinPlanet) February 9, 2023
Disney also announced today that approximately 7,000 employees would be laid off due to budget cuts and restructuring within the company. One Twitter user pointed out that perhaps today’s film announcements were strategic and intended to serve as a distraction.
"Hey guys we're making Toy Story 5 please ignore this" https://t.co/3dQFYLIl3Z
— ✪ daniel barnes ✪ (@Danny8bit) February 8, 2023
Toy Story 5 and Frozen 3 is really exciting, but this is such an obvious scheme to coverup Disney laying off 7,000 people. This is a pattern and it shouldn’t be.
— Mateo ???? (@_justmateo_) February 8, 2023
The cuts come after Disney+ has faced losing thousands of subscribers. The streaming platform was launched in 2019. The layoffs are only the latest in a major media company. Vox Media laid off thousands ahead of a merger with Penske Media, and Google and Microsoft led the layoff totals in the tech world.
More layoffs hitting media as Disney says it will cut 7000 jobs. pic.twitter.com/tG5wnT4jFY
— Joe Flint (@JBFlint) February 8, 2023
The layoffs are likely due to a combination of factors. Twitter took to theorizing about why 7,000 will be left jobless this week.
My animation professor who does stuff from Disney here and there said they haven't been doing well for a while, there's rumors going around they might sell some of their famous IP
— naya (@faefaefaes) February 9, 2023
Conservative media personalities politicized the budget and layoffs issue. After former CEO Bob Chapek came under fire in 2022 for continuing to donate to Florida’s elected officials who supported the Don’t Say Gay Bill, attention has turned to Bob Iger’s previous political remarks regarding his votes for the Democratic party.
"Woke Disney" isn't working. Disney will sink unless it returns to its traditional roots and rejects far Left ideology.
Bob Iger Outlines New Disney Org Structure, With 7,000 Layoffs Planned https://t.co/Bl0m9yGxOW via @thr
— Nile Gardiner (@NileGardiner) February 8, 2023
All of this comes as millionaire investor and Republican activist Nelson Peltz is making a play for a seat at the table at Disney. Major shakeups are to be expected with Disney’s streaming platforms, and potentially its leadership. While fans rejoice at the announcement at some of their nostalgic childhood favorites, they continue to be met with the ethical dilemma of supporting a company that has repeatedly attempted to distract from company-wide layoffs.
