In the latest movie, Pixar’s Lightyear director Angus MacLane and producer Galyn Susman disclosed they cast Chris Evans as Buzz Lightyear because the character required a more emotional and passionate voice than he had in the previous Toy Story movies. Chris Evans also talked about the similarities between the character Buzz and Captain America, the Marvel Cinematic Universe role that made him a familiar figure.
Also read: MCU Star Chris Evans Reveals Favorite Disney Movies, Fans Shocked as it Doesn’t Include Lightyear
In an interview, the director and producer further explained more points about why Chris Evans replaced Tim Allen as Buzz in Pixar’s new sci-fi adventure.
Lightyear Director Reveals Reason Behind Chris Evans’ Casting
Tim Allen, with Chris Evans in an interview with EMEA Tribune, said:
“The tone [of Lightyear] is a lot different [to that of the Toy Story movies].”
Angus MacLane added:
“Tim is hilarious, but this character wouldn’t work as well with him doing the Space Ranger voice. It would not be as emotional. It just changes the tone of the movie. We were going for more of a classic sci-fi film.”
Galyn Susman also added that Tim Allen repeating the role would also have fused the confusion around where the movie suits within the wider Pixar canon and continued:
“People were having a hard enough time wrapping their heads around this. So really we needed the toy in the Toy Story universe to be its own thing. Tim Allen is Buzz Lightyear, the toy. Chris Evans is Buzz Lightyear, the superhero from that movie that inspired the toy.”
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Recently, Chris Evans also commented on taking possession of the Space Ranger’s vocal actor, claiming that the Buzz role still belongs to Tim Allen. He further described playing the role was like wearing someone else’s clothes and talked about performing his best to honor Tim Allen’s heritage. He also touched on some relations between Buzz and Captain America acknowledging that both heroes have a lot of similarities, but they also differ in many ways too.
“The characters themselves have a lot of similar overlap in terms of their sense of responsibility and leadership. But they’re very different men, so you take the things that are useful and you leave the things that make Cap, Cap.”
Recently, Angus MacLane shared the reflection behind Zurg’s redesign, sketching it up to unique in-universe licensed media aesthetics. He said:
“Well, I imagine the version from Toy Story 2 is from the cartoon that the Toy Story Buzz is from. In the same way that the Buzz Lightyear of Star Command cartoon show, that Zurg looks more like the Zurg that we know from Toy Story 2.”
The movie is out in theatres now.
Related: ‘They Castrated Lightyear’: Patricia Heaton Blasts Pixar for Replacing Tim Allen With Chris Evans
