This is not a drill — Chris Evans will be starring as the beloved space ranger Buzz Lightyear in a Toy Story spinoff.
Disney and Pixar Animation Studios released the teaser trailer for Lightyear on Wednesday. In the teaser, a human Buzz Lightyear is seen suiting up for a great space mission to infinity and beyond as David Bowie’s “Starman” plays.
To infinity and … 🚀 Experience the origin story of a Space Ranger in Disney and Pixar’s #Lightyear, in theaters Summer 2022. 💫 pic.twitter.com/B8kRwSDYSO
— Pixar (@Pixar) October 27, 2021
Lightyear is a prequel to the Toy Story films, telling the origin story of Buzz Lightyear. But unlike the Buzz from the Toy Story films, this Buzz won’t be equipped with laser pointer beams and plastic glider wings because in Lightyear, Buzz is not a toy.
The prequel will tell the origin story of the real rocketeer who inspired the Buzz Lightyear action figure we know and love from the Toy Story films. The animated film will be directed by veteran Pixar animator Angus MacLane.
Chris Evans will be voicing the titular space ranger and rocketeer, succeeding Tim Allen, who voiced Buzz in the Toy Story films. The Captain America star took to Twitter to announce his involvement in the film and express his gratitude for being a part of it.
“I’m covered in goosebumps. And will be every time I watch this trailer. Or hear a Bowie song. Or have any thought whatsoever between now and July cause nothing has ever made me feel more joy and gratitude than knowing I’m a part of this and it’s basically always on my mind,” Evans wrote.
https://twitter.com/ChrisEvans/status/1453349886871625733?s=20
“Animated movies were an enormous part of my childhood. They were my escape. My adventures. My dreams. They were my first window into the magic of storytelling and performing. To @pixar and @AngusMacLane: ‘Thank you’ doesn’t even come close,” Evans wrote in another tweet, along with a screenshot of his statement on getting to take part in a Pixar project.
https://twitter.com/ChrisEvans/status/1453364366322118660?s=20
“Anyone who knows me knows that my love for animated films runs deep. I can’t believe that I get to be a part of the Pixar family and work with these truly brilliant artists who tell stories unlike anyone else. Watching them work is nothing short of magic. I pinch myself everyday,” Evans said in a statement.
Lightyear is set to take fans to infinity and beyond when it hits theaters on June 17, 2022.
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