The Lost 2002 Version of Toy Story 3: The 'Whodunnit' Drafts - Canned Goods

Summary

The video script explores the untold story of 'Toy Story 3,' revealing an initial 2002 version written as a strategic move amidst Disney-Pixar tensions. The original draft by Sher and Bill Steinker featured a 2D, mystery-driven narrative involving a sock monkey named HEI. The script underwent significant changes, including a switch to 3D animation and a new plot, before being shelved in favor of other storylines. The episode delves into the development, politics, and ultimate cancellation of this early version of 'Toy Story 3,' offering a unique perspective on the film's evolution.

Takeaways

• 🎬 'Toy Story 3' was initially conceived as a bargaining chip in 2002 during a tense period between Disney and Pixar.
• 📝 The original draft by Sher and Bill Steinker was titled 'Toy Story Christmas Mystery Project' and featured a 'whodunit' plot inspired by Agatha Christie stories.
• 🐵 The story introduced a new character, a sock monkey named HEI, who was central to the mystery and had a backstory connected to Andy's family.
• 🔥 A key plot point involved Woody falling into a fireplace, leading to a series of misunderstandings and accusations among the toys.
• 🕵️‍♂️ The toys were pitted against each other, suspecting one another of causing the various accidents and disappearances throughout the story.
• 🧵 The unraveling of HEI was a climactic moment, revealing the truth about the toy's past and intentions, which were misunderstood by the other toys.
• 🤝 Despite the initial conflict, the story ended with a resolution where the toys reconciled and saved each other from various predicaments.
• 💔 The script was eventually set aside as Disney and Pixar's relationship soured, leading to a change in direction for the 'Toy Story' franchise.
• 📖 The Steinkers' draft was later rewritten by other writers, but the new version was also not produced, and the story was ultimately canceled.
• 🔄 The cancellation of the 'whodunit' draft coincided with the folding of Circle 7 Animation, Disney's studio intended to create Pixar sequels without Pixar's involvement.
• 🎉 The final 'Toy Story 3' film took a different direction, becoming a critical and commercial success, though the original draft's story was never realized on screen.

Q & A

What was the original purpose of the first version of 'Toy Story 3' written in 2002?

The first version of 'Toy Story 3' was written as a bargaining chip against Pixar during a tense time between Disney and Pixar, potentially to be used as leverage in contract negotiations.

Why was there tension between Disney and Pixar during the development of 'Toy Story 2'?

The tension arose when Disney's CEO Michael Eisner argued that 'Toy Story 2', being a sequel, should not count towards the five original projects specified in Pixar's contract with Disney.

Who were the original writers of the 2002 'Toy Story 3' script?

The original writers of the 2002 'Toy Story 3' script were Sher and Bill Steinker, a husband and wife writing duo.

What was unique about the freedom given to Sher and Bill Steinker when writing the 'Toy Story 3' script?

They were given free rein to write any story they wanted for the characters, which was unusual and likely tied to the political situation between Disney and Pixar at the time.

What was the central plot of Sher and Bill Steinker's version of 'Toy Story 3'?

Their version revolved around a 'whodunit' mystery inspired by Agatha Christie, featuring a sock monkey named HEI and the toys trying to uncover the truth behind a series of strange events.

Why was HEI, the sock monkey, a significant character in Sher and Bill Steinker's 'Toy Story 3'?

HEI was significant because he was a real toy owned by one of the Steinkers' children, and he played a central role in the mystery plot of their script.

What was the outcome of the script written by Sher and Bill Steinker for 'Toy Story 3'?

The script was eventually set aside and not used. It was later rewritten by others and the final version of 'Toy Story 3' that was released bore little resemblance to their original draft.

What was the turning point for Disney's approach to 'Toy Story 3' after the contract dispute with Pixar?

The turning point was when Disney decided to create Circle 7 Animation to produce Pixar sequels without Pixar's involvement, indicating a shift in direction for 'Toy Story 3'.

How did the relationship between Disney and Pixar evolve after the initial conflict?

After 10 months of negotiation, Pixar announced they would not pursue another deal with Disney once their current contract ended, leading to a formal end to their partnership.

What was the final draft of 'Toy Story 3' that was eventually released to the public?

The final draft, rewritten by David Gyan and Michael Handelman, was released by script collector Yoshi killer 2s and featured a different story from the original Steinker draft, including new characters and plot elements.

Why was the 'whodunit' draft of 'Toy Story 3' ultimately not made into a film?

The 'whodunit' draft was not made into a film because Disney decided to move in a different direction for 'Toy Story 3', and when Circle 7 Animation folded in 2006, the draft was shelved.