Lightyear

Lightyear
Directed by	Angus MacLane
Produced by	Galyn Susman Pete Docter (Executive Producer)
Written by	Pete Docter
Starring	Chris Evans Keke Palmer Dale Soules Taika Waititi Peter Sohn Uzo Aduba James Brolin Mary McDonald-Lewis Efren Ramirez Isiah Whitlock Jr.
Music by	Michael Giacchino
Studio(s)	Walt Disney Pictures Pixar Animation Studios
Distributor	Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Released	June 17, 2022
Language	English
Preceded by	Toy Story 4 Turning Red
Followed by	Elemental

“Every hero has a beginning”

―Tagline

Lightyear is an upcoming American computer-animated science-fiction action film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures. It is a spin-off of the Toy Story franchise, serving as an origin story for the fictional test pilot/astronaut who the Buzz Lightyear toy featured in the previous films was based on, presented as a film within a film the characters in Toy Story would watch.

It will be Pixar's 26th animated feature, and is scheduled to be theatrically released on June 17, 2022, in RealD 3D, Dolby Cinema and IMAX formats.

Synopsis

The definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy, Lightyear follows the legendary Space Ranger after he is marooned on a hostile planet 4.2 million light-years from Earth alongside his commander and their crew. As Buzz tries to find a way back home through space and time, he is joined by a group of ambitious recruits and his charming robot companion cat, Sox. Complicating matters and threatening the mission is the arrival of Zurg, an imposing presence with an army of ruthless robots and a mysterious agenda.

Cast

• Chris Evans as Buzz Lightyear
• James Brolin as Zurg
• Uzo Aduba as Alisha Hawthorne
• Keke Palmer as Izzy Hawthorne
  • Keira Hairston as Young Izzy
• Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Commander Burnside
• Taika Waititi as Mo Morrison
• Dale Soules as Darby Steel
• Efren Ramirez as Airman Diaz
• Peter Sohn as Sox
• Mary McDonald-Lewis as I.V.A.N.
• Anthony Armanino as Special Agent Chuck Bailey IV
• Tim Peake as Mission Control

Production

Development

After finishing work on Finding Dory, Angus MacLane was allowed to pitch the idea of making a Buzz Lightyear film, based on the idea over what movie Andy Davis would have seen in the original Toy Story to get interested in a Buzz Lightyear action figure. As a science fiction fan himself, MacLane had felt attracted to the Lightyear character since he started working at Pixar, feeling that the film's story was very "personal" for him. An aspect present in the Toy Story films that Lightyear explores is Buzz's disagreement over the nature of reality, which, coupled with his heroic ideals, made an amalgam of sci-fi clichés that MacLane intended to make more than just a punchline.

In February 2019, Tim Allen expressed interest in doing another film as he "did not see any reason why they would not do it". On The Ellen DeGeneres Show that May, Tom Hanks said that Toy Story 4 would be the final installment in the franchise, but producer Mark Nielsen disclosed a possibility of a fifth film, as Pixar was not ruling out that possibility.

In December 2020 at a Disney Investor Day meeting, Lightyear was announced as a spin-off film depicting the in-universe origin of the human Buzz Lightyear, with Chris Evans providing the character's voice.

It was revealed in March 2022 that a scene featuring a same-sex kiss between Alicia Hawthorne and another woman was initially cut. However, due to current Disney CEO Bob Chapek's response to the "Don't Say Gay" Bill and the internal uproar it caused within Disney, the scene was reinstated.

Casting

Chris Evans was announced to have been cast as the human Buzz Lightyear upon the project's announcement in December 2020. Evans was the first and only choice MacLane had for Buzz. He visited Pixar's offices one day and they pitched him the project during a visit. Evans accepted the offer immediately, given his love for animation. Taika Waititi was reported to have been cast in an undisclosed role in November 2021.

Animation

The animators wanted the film to look "cinematic" and "chunky" in order to evoke the feeling of the sci-fi films MacLane grew up with. In order to achieve this, they asked a former Industrial Light & Magic employee to build a spaceship model for them, from which the animators drew inspiration; this technique was inspired by designers for early sci-fi films using models as inspiration for their sets and props.

Release

Lightyear is scheduled to be released in theaters in the United States on June 17, 2022 by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, in RealD 3D, Dolby Cinema and IMAX formats. It will be the first theatrical release for Pixar in two years, since Soul, Luca and Turning Red were assigned direct-to-streaming releases on Disney+ in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Videos

Lightyear - Teaser Trailer

Lightyear - Official Trailer

Lightyear - Official Trailer 2

Lightyear - Special Look

Lightyear - Introducing Tim Peake as 'Tim from Launch Control' Cameo!

Trivia

• This will be the second Toy Story spin-off after Buzz Lightyear of Star Command.
• This will be the first Pixar film of the 2020s to be produced in a 2:39:1 aspect ratio, since Soul, unlike Luca and Turning Red, which were produced in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio.
• This is not a story about the Toy Story action figure or the cartoon Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, but the origin of the in-universe astronaut who inspired the cartoon and toy.
• This will be Pixar's first spin-off film.
• The second Pixar film to be released on June 17, after Finding Dory.
• This will be the second Disney animated spin-off to be produced in a 2:39:1 aspect ratio, after Planes: Fire & Rescue.
• Contrary to people's expectations, this is not the first time Buzz is played by an actor other than Tim Allen. The list includes:
  • Pat Fraley (Toy Story Treats, video games, attractions)
  • Patrick Warburton (Buzz Lightyear of Star Command)
  • Javier Fernandez-Peña (Spanish mode in Toy Story 3)
  • Mike MacRae (video games)
  • Corey Burton (Disney on Ice)
    • When the movie was announced, many people were thrown into great confusion over it. This can be largely attributed to the human character and the toy sharing the same name, which led many people to believe the human Lightyear's voice actor, Chris Evans, would replace the toy Lightyear's voice actor, Tim Allen, to become the new voice of the character. Disney later clarified on Twitter that this was not the case, with Evans being the voice of the in-universe character that inspired the toy, and Allen being the voice of the toy.
• In the trailers, Buzz's ship is shown to be powered by a crystal. This is likely a homage to how in Toy Story, Buzz asks Woody if his people have yet to discover crystallic fusion.
• This will be the second Pixar movie to feature a Marvel Cinematic Universe actor after Onward.
• Tim Allen and Chris Evans both share the same birthday, but 28 years apart, with Tim being born in 1953, and Chris in 1981.
• The song performing in the trailers was "Starman" by David Bowie.
• When Alisha catches Buzz doing a mission log, she tells him nobody ever listens to them. In Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins, Warp Darkmatter made the same remark about mission logs.
• Just like Chris Evans character Steve Rogers, the Lightyear version of Buzz ends up in the future over sixty-two years later.
• Like in Toy Story and Toy Story 2, Buzz's reflection in shown on the inside of his helmet.
• When Buzz lands after travelling sixty-five years into the future, he says "Buzz Lightyear to Star Command. Come in, Star Command. Why Don't they awnser." This was the first thing Buzz in Toy Story.

References

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Media Films: Toy Story (video/soundtrack/The Legacy Collection) • Toy Story 2 (video/soundtrack) • Toy Story 3 (video/soundtrack) • Toy Story 4 (video/soundtrack) • The Adventure Begins • Buzz Lightyear: Mission Logs • Toy Story of Terror! (soundtrack) • Toy Story That Time Forgot • Forky Asks a Question • Lamp Life • Pixar Popcorn (To Fitness and Beyond • Fluffy Stuff with Ducky & Bunny: Love • Fluffy Stuff with Ducky & Bunny: Three Heads) • Lightyear Television: Buzz Lightyear of Star Command • Toy Story Treats • Toy Story Toons (Hawaiian Vacation • Small Fry • Partysaurus Rex) Video Games: Toy Story: The Video Game • Toy Story 2: The Video Game • Toy Story 3: The Video Game • Toy Story: Animated StoryBook • Toy Story: Activity Center • Toy Story 2: Activity Center • Toy Story Racer • Toy Story Mania! • Toy Story: Smash It! • Toy Story Drop! • Kinect Rush: A Disney/Pixar Adventure • Disney Infinity • Disney Crossy Road • LEGO The Incredibles • Kingdom Hearts III • Disney Emoji Blitz • Disney Heroes: Battle Mode • Disney Getaway Blast Books: The Art of Toy Story 3 • The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey • The Art of Toy Story 4 • The Art of Lightyear Cancelled projects: Circle 7 Screenplay Disney Parks Toy Story Land • Toy Story Hotel • Alien Swirling Saucers • Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin • The Magic of Disney Animation • Garden of the Twelve Friends • Games of Pixar Pier • It's a Small World • Jessie's Critter Carousel • PLAY! • Pixar Pal-A-Round • RC Racer • Slinky Dog Dash • Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin • Toy Soldier Parachute Drop • Toy Story Midway Mania! • Woody's Round-Up • Woody's Roundup Village Entertainment: "A Whole New World" A Magical Disney Songbook 2 • Disney's Showtime Spectacular • Fantasmic! • Horseshoe Roundup • Mickey and the Wondrous Book • Mickey presents: “Happy Anniversary Disneyland Paris” • Mickey's Magical Music World • Once Upon a Mouse • Pixar Playtime Pals • The Golden Mickeys • Toy Story: The Musical Restaurants: Alien Pizza Planet • Toy Box Cafe • Toy Story Pizza Planet Arcade • Woody’s Lunch Box • Poultry Palace • Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant Shops: Al's Toy Barn • Andy's Engine • Andy's Toy Box • Buzz's Star Command • Little Green Men Store Command • Slinky Dog's Gift Trolley • Toy Story Playland Boutique Parades: Block Party Bash • Disney's Dreams On Parade: Moving On • Disney's Party Express • Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade • Disney Cinema Parade • Disney Magic on Parade • Disney on Parade • Disney Stars on Parade • Dreams.... And Shine Brighter! • Flights of Fantasy Parade • Happiness is Here Parade • Jubilation! • Mickey's New Year's Eve Parade • Move It! Shake It! Dance and Play It! Street Party • Mickey's Rainy Day Express • Mickey's Storybook Express • Paint The Night Parade • Pixar Play Parade • Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade: DreamLights Fireworks: Celebrate the Magic • Celebrate! Tokyo Disneyland • Disney Enchantment • Happily Ever After • ILLUMINATE! A Nighttime Celebration • The Magic, the Memories and You • Momentous • Together Forever: A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular • World of Color Spring: Disney's Easter Wonderland • Disney's Spring Promenade Summer: Mickey's WaterWorks • Pixar Water Play Street Party! • Stitch and Friends Summer Surprise Halloween: The Nightmare Experiment Christmas: A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas • Disney Christmas Stories • Disney Dreams! of Christmas • Disney Gifts of Christmas • Disney's White Holiday Parade • La Parade de Noël Disney • Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration Characters Toys: Woody • Buzz Lightyear • Bo Peep • Billy, Goat, and Gruff • Sarge • Green Army Men • Barrel of Monkeys • Hamm • Lenny • Little Green Men • Mr. Potato Head • RC • Rex • Mr. Mike • See 'n Say • Slinky Dog • Babyface • Mutant Toys • Zurg Bots • Mrs. Potato Head • Wheezy • Bullseye • Jessie • Stinky Pete • Tour Guide Barbie • Barbie • Utility Belt Buzz • Emperor Zurg • Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots • Chatter Telephone • Chunk • Big Baby • Monkey • Jack-in-the-Box • Lotso • Twitch • Ken • Bookworm • Sparks • Stretch • Mr. Pricklepants • Buttercup • Peas-in-a-Pod • Totoro • Trixie • Chuckles • Dolly • Fun Meal Buzz Lightyear • Fun Meal Emperor Zurg • Discarded Fun Meal Toys • Combat Carl • Pocketeer • PEZ Cat • Old Timer • Transitron • Angel Kitty • The Cleric • Reptillus Maximus • Ray-Gon • Goliathon • Dino-Hounds • Battlesaurs • Forky • Ducky and Bunny • Gabby Gabby • The Bensons • Duke Caboom • Giggle McDimples • Melephant Brooks • Chairol Burnett • Bitey White • Carl Reineroceros • Tinny • Karen Beverly • Rib Tickles Humans: Andy Davis • Molly Davis • Mrs. Davis • Sid Phillips • Hannah Phillips • Al McWhiggin • Geri • Emily • Bonnie Anderson • Mr. Anderson • Mrs. Anderson • Daisy • Ronald Tompkins • Mason • Harmony • Margaret the Store Owner • Carol • Miss Wendy • Axel the Carnie • Rosie • Rejean • Billy Animals: Scud • Buster • Mr. Jones • Dragon the Cat Lightyear: Alisha Hawthorne • Izzy Hawthorne • Sox • Mo Morrison • Darby Steel • Zyclops Deleted characters: Shakes • Señorita Cactus • Bizz Leapyear, Buzztron, and Blip Laserfist Locations Andy's House • Sid's House • Dinoco • Pizza Planet • Al's Toy Barn • Al's Penthouse • Tri-County International Airport • Wild West • Sunnyside Daycare • Butterfly Room • Caterpillar Room • Ken's Dream House • Vending Machine • Bonnie's House • Tri-County Sanitation • Tri-County Landfill • Incinerator • Poultry Palace • Sleep Well • Second Chance Antiques • The Carnival • Star Command Objects A113 • Pixar Ball • Pizza Planet Truck • Eggman Movers • The Claw • The Davis's Family Van • Far East Airlines Jet Songs Films: You've Got a Friend in Me • Strange Things • I Will Go Sailing No More • Woody's Roundup • When She Loved Me • We Belong Together • Dream Weaver • Le Freak • Battlesaurs Theme Song • The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy • I Can't Let You Throw Yourself Away • Livin' Thing Deleted: The Fool • Plastic Spaceman • My Unexpected Friend See Also Black Friday reel • Toy Story (Original Treatment) • Toy Story 2 (original storyline) • Toy Story 3 (Circle 7 Screenplay) • The Science Behind Pixar • Pixar in a Box • Toy Story (franchise)

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