Pixar has released the second official trailer for Lightyear, its new film centered on the eponymous Space Ranger that inspired one of the Toy Story franchise’s most iconic characters. Providing the voice for Buzz this time around is Captain America himself, Chris Evans, who, according to Pixar animator and director Angus MacLane, should be an acceptable replacement for Tim Allen for his range in experience from comedies to action movies. Lightyear will be released in theaters on June 17, 2022.
“Because (Buzz’s) voice is so iconic, you run the risk of, of imitation,” MacLane explained during a presentation attended by IGN and other press. “And I never wanted as someone that was going to imitate that that character voice, but I wanted something to be different.”
“I wanted somebody who was not going to be goofy, funny. It is so hard to make a character that is a side character to a main character. You need to kind of step back and rethink it a little bit. I knew that the character was iconic enough that you needed someone with the gravitas and seriousness and the balance of comedy and drama for the actor was a very, very narrow window of actor that could do it. And there was a lot of comedy and serious action stuff that we’d seen Chris Evans do and and had always exemplified, and it was always impressed by his ability to not seem too goofy, but be able to laugh at himself. And it is really essential for the character.”
Lightyear | Official Trailer 2 (Pixar)
The definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy, “Lightyear” follows the legendary Space Ranger after he’s 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’s 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. A new poster and images are also available.
The film features the voices of Chris Evans as accomplished Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear, Uzo Aduba as his commander and best friend Alisha Hawthorne and Peter Sohn as Sox. Keke Palmer, Taika Waititi and Dale Soules lend their voices to the Junior Zap Patrol’s Izzy Hawthorne, Mo Morrison and Darby Steel, respectively, and James Brolin can be heard as the enigmatic Zurg. The voice cast also includes Mary McDonald-Lewis as onboard computer I.V.A.N., Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Commander Burnside, Efren Ramirez as Airman Diaz, and Keira Hairston as Young Izzy. Directed by Angus MacLane (co-director “Finding Dory”), produced by Galyn Susman (“Toy Story That Time Forgot”) and featuring a score by award-winning composer Michael Giacchino (“The Batman,” “Up”), “Lightyear” opens only in theaters on June 17, 2022.