The film sees Captain America star Chris Evans take over from Tim Allen as the voice of the iconic titular space ranger \u2013 albeit with something of a major twist from the previous entries in the series.<\/p>\n
Shortly after it was first announced by Pixar towards the end of 2020, Evans rather baffled the internet when he announced the film wasn\u2019t about Buzz Lightyear the toy, but rather it was \u201cThe origin story of the human Buzz Lightyear that the toy is based on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now that the film has been released, it\u2019s much easier to make sense of that statement \u2013 read on to discover exactly how Lightyear is connected to the Toy Story films.<\/p>\n
How is Lightyear connected to Toy Story?<\/strong><\/h2>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\nThe answer to this question is provided in the very opening seconds of Lightyear \u2013 when text flashes up on screen explaining exactly what the audience is about to watch.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 1995, a boy named Andy got a Buzz Lightyear toy for his birthday. It was from his favourite movie. This is that movie,\u201d the text reads.<\/p>\n
In short, this film is one that exists in the Toy Story universe and was technically released a couple of decades ago when Andy was a child.<\/p>
In fact, director Angus MacLane has revealed that the film would actually have been released prior to when Andy received the toy in 1995 \u2013 explaining to Fandom<\/a> that it could even have first come out in the \u201980s.<\/p>\n\u201cIt says he got the toy in 1995 but it was from his favourite movie,\u201d MacLane said. \u201cHis favourite movie was not from 1995, his favourite movie was from 1984 or 1985. It was kind of separated from that. [Lightyear] was something Andy saw on VHS a lot, that\u2019s the way I looked at it.\u201d<\/p>\n
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So essentially, Lightyear is the Star Wars of the Toy Story world, and just like George Lucas\u2019 films led to all sorts of merchandise based on Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia etc, it appears that Lightyear led to the Buzz toy becoming one of the most popular in Andy\u2019s world.<\/p>\n
There are naturally a few other things in the film that will be recognisable to fans of the Toy Story films \u2013 including Buzz\u2019s oft-repeated catchphrase \u201cTo Infinity and Beyond\u201d and the fact that his nemesis is the villain Emperor Zurg, but many of the other characters are brand new for this film.<\/p>\n
And crucially \u2013 as Evans was trying to articulate with that tweet back in 2020 \u2013 the Buzz we see in this film is different from the one we see in Toy Story in that he is not meant to be a toy in the movie, but rather a real space ranger having real adventures.<\/p>\n
Why is Tim Allen not voicing Buzz Lightyear?<\/strong><\/h2>\nSome fans were surprised to learn that original Buzz Lightyear voice actor Tim Allen would not be returning to play the character in the new film \u2013 with Chris Evans instead landing the role.<\/p>\n
Actress Patricia Heaton was especially annoyed with the decision, claiming on Twitter that \u201cDisney\/Pixar made a HUGE mistake\u201d in not casting Allen in \u201cThe role that he originated, the role that he owns.\u201d<\/p>\n
Saw the trailer for Buzz Lightyear and all I can say is Disney\/Pixar made a HUGE mistake in not casting my pal @ofctimallen<\/a> Tim Allen in the role that he originated, the role that he owns. Tim IS Buzz! Why would they completely castrate this iconic, beloved character?<\/p>\u2014 Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) June 14, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/7-Toy-Story-3-60f03ce.jpg?quality=90&crop=222px%2C0px%2C2518px%2C1677px&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\nThe answer to this question is provided in the very opening seconds of Lightyear \u2013 when text flashes up on screen explaining exactly what the audience is about to watch.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 1995, a boy named Andy got a Buzz Lightyear toy for his birthday. It was from his favourite movie. This is that movie,\u201d the text reads.<\/p>\n
In short, this film is one that exists in the Toy Story universe and was technically released a couple of decades ago when Andy was a child.<\/p>
In fact, director Angus MacLane has revealed that the film would actually have been released prior to when Andy received the toy in 1995 \u2013 explaining to Fandom<\/a> that it could even have first come out in the \u201980s.<\/p>\n \u201cIt says he got the toy in 1995 but it was from his favourite movie,\u201d MacLane said. \u201cHis favourite movie was not from 1995, his favourite movie was from 1984 or 1985. It was kind of separated from that. [Lightyear] was something Andy saw on VHS a lot, that\u2019s the way I looked at it.\u201d<\/p>\n So essentially, Lightyear is the Star Wars of the Toy Story world, and just like George Lucas\u2019 films led to all sorts of merchandise based on Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia etc, it appears that Lightyear led to the Buzz toy becoming one of the most popular in Andy\u2019s world.<\/p>\n There are naturally a few other things in the film that will be recognisable to fans of the Toy Story films \u2013 including Buzz\u2019s oft-repeated catchphrase \u201cTo Infinity and Beyond\u201d and the fact that his nemesis is the villain Emperor Zurg, but many of the other characters are brand new for this film.<\/p>\n And crucially \u2013 as Evans was trying to articulate with that tweet back in 2020 \u2013 the Buzz we see in this film is different from the one we see in Toy Story in that he is not meant to be a toy in the movie, but rather a real space ranger having real adventures.<\/p>\n Some fans were surprised to learn that original Buzz Lightyear voice actor Tim Allen would not be returning to play the character in the new film \u2013 with Chris Evans instead landing the role.<\/p>\n Actress Patricia Heaton was especially annoyed with the decision, claiming on Twitter that \u201cDisney\/Pixar made a HUGE mistake\u201d in not casting Allen in \u201cThe role that he originated, the role that he owns.\u201d<\/p>\n Saw the trailer for Buzz Lightyear and all I can say is Disney\/Pixar made a HUGE mistake in not casting my pal @ofctimallen<\/a> Tim Allen in the role that he originated, the role that he owns. Tim IS Buzz! Why would they completely castrate this iconic, beloved character?<\/p>\u2014 Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) June 14, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>Why is Tim Allen not voicing Buzz Lightyear?<\/strong><\/h2>\n