Back in 1995, Walt Disney
Pictures and Pixar Studios released an animated movie unlike any other. “Toy
Story” was a light-hearted romp featuring toys that come alive when their
owners are not looking. Still, it made history as the first feature-length film
done entirely in 3D computer animation. One of its main characters, action figure
Buzz Lightyear, went on to star in his own animated spinoff series; or rather,
the fictional character based on the toy. While “Toy Story” went on to have
several sequels, “Buzz Lightyear of Star Command” remained one-off. Then
Disney-Pixar teased a reboot origin story animated film for the Lightyear
character last year, followed by a full trailer just this week.
Yahoo! News has it that a trailer for “Lightyear,” about the
character that inspired the Buzz Lightyear toy from “Toy Story,” dropped on
Tuesday, February 8. It shows more scenes regarding the initial adventures of
then-rookie Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear, as voiced by Chris Evans (MCU Captain
America) taking over for Tim Allen (“Toy Story”) and Patrick Warburton
(animated series). Where the teaser focused on Buzz going on a space flight to
the tune of David Bowie’s “Starman,” the trailer adds context to the scenes.
It would seem that Buzz Lightyear
and a large Star Command contingent have been marooned for a year on a desert
planet. The world has hostile life forms, from giant insects to long sentient
vines that snag people to drag them underground. Buzz is selected to pilot a
warp spacecraft to seek help from the rest of Star Command. But space has
become a dangerous place. Buzz and his fellow Rangers are pursued by a
malevolent masked army, led by a giant robot. “Toy Story” and “Buzz Lightyear
of Star Command” might recognize the robot as the Evil Emperor Zurg.
Following the earlier reveal of “Lightyear”
in 2021, Chris Evans needed to clarify where the film stands in the “Toy Story”
franchise. “Just to be clear, this isn’t Buzz Lightyear the toy,” says Evans. “This
is the origin story of the human Buzz Lightyear that the toy is based on.”
Pixar regulars Angus McLane and
Pete Docter direct and write the film respectively, with Michael Giacchino (MCU
films) composing the score. Joining Evans on the cast are Keke Palmer, Taika
Waititi, Peter Sohn, Dale Soules, Isaiah Whitlock Jr., and James Brolin, the
very last of which is rumored to be voicing Buzz’s nemesis Emperor Zurg. “Lightyear”
will premiere June 17.
Image courtesy of The Wrap
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