According to Variety, Disney Consumer Products chair Andy Mooney said Tuesday that Toy Story 3 is projected for a summer 2008 release.

The third installment of the animated franchise will be the first produced by Disney without Pixar, which originated the saga of a boy's toys that have lives and adventures of their own.

Disney and Pixar broke off talks about renewing their distribution deal last year but have recently begun preliminary negotiations again. The deal expires with Cars, set for release next summer.

If Pixar and Disney cannot agree a new contract, Disney retains sequel rights for the previously completed pics.

The Toy Story 3 release news came in a presentation at the Licensing Intl. trade show in Gotham, during which Mooney focused on conglom's products push.