Chris Evans has signed on to voice Buzz Lightyear in Pixar’s all-new animated film, Lightyear. The announcement was made by Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer, Pete Docter during Disney’s Investor Day event.
Lightyear is billed as sci-fi action-adventure and the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear – the hero who inspired the toy voiced by Tim Allen in four Toy Story films from 1995 to 2019.
The story will explore how a young test pilot became the famous astronaut we all know today. The movie will be directed by Angus MacLane (of Finding Dory fame) with Galyn Susman serving as producer.
Shortly after the news was revealed, Evans took to social media to share his excitement about project in a series of tweets.
“I don’t even have the words.”
I don’t even have the words. https://t.co/GHC8X6Yp7n
— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) December 11, 2020
“And just to be clear, this isn’t Buzz Lightyear the toy. This is the origin story of the human Buzz Lightyear that the toy is based on.”
And just to be clear, this isn’t Buzz Lightyear the toy. This is the origin story of the human Buzz Lightyear that the toy is based on
— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) December 11, 2020
Pixar’s Buzz Lightyear made his big-screen debut in 1995’s Toy Story alongside Sheriff Woody. He also appeared in the movie, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins and the television spin-off series, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command.
The character was named after Apollo 11 astronaut Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, the second person to walk on the Moon. Aldrin acknowledged the tribute when he revealed a Buzz Lightyear action-figure during one of his speeches at NASA. A clip of this iconic moment can be found on the Toy Story 10th Anniversary DVD.
