by See: Light years supporter
Buzz Lightyear is back. Three years after the release of Toy Story 4Pixar’s iconic character has returned with his own spin-off film.
Light yearsnow streaming on Disney+, tells the origin story of the action figure and his adventures ad infinitum.
But the character sounds a little different than the Space Ranger who appeared in all four Toy Story Movies.
That’s because Tim Allen, who voiced Buzz Lightyear in the beloved franchise, has been replaced by Marvel star Chris Evans.
The move to remake Allen has caused confusion from fans, but there’s a simple reason why Evans was chosen to be the new voice of Buzz.
Why isn’t Tim Allen voicing Buzz? Light years?
Light years is not about the Buzz Lightyear toy featured in Toy Story Movies. Instead, it focuses on the hero who inspired the game.
“I always wondered what movie Buzz was from,” director-writer Angus MacLane told Yahoo earlier this year.
“Why couldn’t we just make that movie? So that’s what we did… [Lightyear is] the movie that Andy saw that changed his life… Andy’s Star Wars.”
Pixar made the decision to replace Tim Allen with Chris Evans in the spin-off because they wanted to differentiate between the two characters.
MacLane told Vanity Fair, “Tim’s version of Buzz is a little goofy and a little dumber, and so he’s the comic relief.
“In this movie, Buzz is the action hero. He’s serious and ambitious and funny, but not in a goofy way that would undermine the drama.
“Chris Evans has the gravitas and the movie star quality that our character needed to differentiate him and the film from Tim’s version of the play in Toy Story.”
What has Chris Evans said about the role?
Evans has admitted that taking on the role of Buzz Lightyear was “intimidating”.
The actor, best known for his role as Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, said: “I used Tim Allen as a guideline.
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“He did such a good job and I’d be stupid not to acknowledge the work he did. But I couldn’t just do a shameless impression.
“I had to somehow create my own understanding of the character, and try to make some fresh tracks in the snow while paying homage to the great work he did.
“Eventually, I felt comfortable enough to create my own interpretation, and part of that was lowering the tone of my voice. I basically have to lower the vocal register in everything I do.”
What has Tim Allen said about being replaced by Chris Evans?
Absent from press interviews for the Pixar film, Tim Allen remained tight-lipped about being replaced by Chris Evans ahead of its release.
However, once Light years in theaters, Allen spoke to Extra about why he was unable to speak out.
“The short answer is that I have stayed away from this because it has nothing to do [with my Buzz Lightyear]”, Allen said.
“It’s an amazing story,” the actor said Light years. “It just doesn’t seem to have any connection to the game… There’s just no connection. I wish there was a better connection.”
Talking about Buzz branching out on his own, Allen added: “It is [Tom] Hanks and I. It’s really no Toy Story Buzz without Woody.”
Despite rumors that he had been shunned by Disney, Allen continues to work with the studio on its upcoming Disney+ series The Santa Clauseswhere he returns as Scott Calvin.
What has Tom Hanks said about the controversy?
In a strange fate, Tim Allen’s Toy Story co-star Tom Hanks had his new movie Elvis out the following week light years, pits Woody and Buzz against each other at the box office.
“What about it?” Hanks told CinemaBlend. “Actually, I wanted to go head-to-head with Tim Allen, and then they wouldn’t let Tim Allen do it. I don’t understand.”
Light years is currently faster Elvisbut underperforms compared to its Toy Story predecessors.
Who else is in Light years cast?
Light years follows Buzz after he ends up on a hostile planet 4.2 million light years from Earth.
He must work with a group of new recruits, including Mo Morrison (Taika Waititi) and Darby Steel (Dale Soules), to find a way home.
The mission is commanded by Alisha Hawthorne, voiced by Orange is the new black star Uzo Abuda.
James Brolin plays Buzz’s archenemy Emperor Zurg, while Keke Palmer voices Alisha’s granddaughter Izzy Hawthorne.
Peter Sohn, who directed Pixar’s 2015 film The good dinosaurlends his voice to Buzz’s robot cat companion Sox.
Light years streaming on Disney+ now.
