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Tag: toy-story

Best Pixar Movies Ranked

(L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Remy Edgerly in ‘Elio’. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Pixar Animation Studios has changed the game when it comes to animated feature films.

For almost 30 years the Northern California studio has delivered some of the most critically acclaimed and beloved animated films of all time including ‘Up‘, ‘WALL-E‘, ‘Ratatouille‘, ‘Soul‘ and ‘Coco‘, as well as such popular franchises as ‘Toy Story‘, ‘Cars‘, ‘Finding Nemo‘, ‘The Incredibles‘ and ‘Inside Out‘.

The studio’s latest movie, ‘Elio‘, which features the voice work of recent Oscar winner Zoe Saldaña, opens in theaters on June 20th.

In honor of Pixar’s new film, Moviefone is ranking every movie Pixar has ever made, including their latest.

Let’s begin!

29. ‘Lightyear‘ (2022)

Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans) in Disney and Pixar’s ‘Lightyear,’ which opens in U.S. theaters on June 17, 2022. © 2021 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Legendary Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear (Chris Evans) embarks on an intergalactic adventure alongside a group of ambitious recruits and his robot companion Sox.
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28. ‘Cars 3‘ (2017)

Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician (Cristela Alonzo) with her own plan to win, inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet (Paul Newman), and a few unexpected turns. Proving that #95 isn’t through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage!
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27. ‘The Good Dinosaur‘ (2015)

An epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo (Raymond Ochoa) makes an unlikely human friend.
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26. ‘Cars 2‘ (2011)

Star race car Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) and his pal Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) head overseas to compete in the World Grand Prix race. But the road to the championship becomes rocky as Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage.
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25. ‘Elemental‘ (2023)

Pixar’s ‘Elemental.’ © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

In a city where fire, water, land and air residents live together, a fiery young woman (Leah Lewis) and a go-with-the-flow guy (Mamoudou Athie) will discover something elemental: how much they have in common.
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24. ‘Monsters University‘ (2013)

A look at the relationship between Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sulley (John Goodman) during their days at Monsters University — when they weren’t necessarily the best of friends.
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23. ‘Cars‘ (2006)

Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson), a hotshot rookie race car driven to succeed, discovers that life is about the journey, not the finish line, when he finds himself unexpectedly detoured in the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. On route across the country to the big Piston Cup Championship in California to compete against two seasoned pros, McQueen gets to know the town’s offbeat characters.
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22. ‘Onward‘ (2020)

In a suburban fantasy world, two teenage elf brothers (Tom Holland and Chris Pratt) embark on an extraordinary quest to discover if there is still a little magic left out there.
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21. ‘Brave‘ (2012)

Brave is set in the mystical Scottish Highlands, where Mérida (Kelly Macdonald) is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Mérida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Mérida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman and is granted an ill-fated wish. Also figuring into Mérida’s quest — and serving as comic relief — are the kingdom’s three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), the surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson), and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane).
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20. ‘Elio‘ (2025)

Yonas Kibreab in ‘Elio’. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Elio (Yonas Kidreab), a space fanatic with an active imagination, finds himself on a cosmic misadventure where he must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be.
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19. ‘Luca‘ (2024)

Luca (Jacob Tremblay) and his best friend Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer) experience an unforgettable summer on the Italian Riviera. But all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below the water’s surface.
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18. ‘A Bug’s Life‘ (1998)

On behalf of “oppressed bugs everywhere,” an inventive ant named Flik (Dave Foley) hires a troupe of warrior bugs to defend his bustling colony from a horde of freeloading grasshoppers led by the evil-minded Hopper (Kevin Spacey).
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17. ‘Finding Dory‘ (2016)

Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) is reunited with her friends Nemo (Hayden Rolence) and Marlin (Albert Brooks) in the search for answers about her past. What can she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak Whale?
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16. ‘Incredibles 2‘ (2018)

Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) springs into action to save the day, while Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) faces his greatest challenge yet – taking care of the problems of his three children.
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15. ‘Inside Out 2‘ (2024)

Pixar’s ‘Inside Out 2’. © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Teenager Riley’s (Kensington Tallman) mind headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Tony Hale) and Disgust (Liza Lapira), who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety (Maya Hawke) shows up. And it looks like she’s not alone.
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14. ‘Monsters, Inc.‘ (2001)

Lovable Sulley (John Goodman) and his wisecracking sidekick Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) are the top scare team at Monsters, Inc., the scream-processing factory in Monstropolis. When a little girl named Boo wanders into their world, it’s the monsters who are scared silly, and it’s up to Sulley and Mike to keep her out of sight and get her back home.
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13. ‘Turning Red‘ (2024)

Thirteen-year-old Mei (Rosalie Chiang) is experiencing the awkwardness of being a teenager with a twist – when she gets too excited, she transforms into a giant red panda.
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12. ‘Toy Story 2‘ (1999)

Andy heads off to Cowboy Camp, leaving his toys to their own devices. Things shift into high gear when an obsessive toy collector named Al McWhiggen (Wayne Knight), owner of Al’s Toy Barn kidnaps Woody (Tom Hanks). Andy’s toys mount a daring rescue mission, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) meets his match and Woody has to decide where he and his heart truly belong.
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11. ‘WALL·E‘ (2008)

What if mankind had to leave Earth and somebody forgot to turn the last robot off? After hundreds of years doing what he was built for, WALL•E (Ben Burtt) discovers a new purpose in life when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE (Elissa Knight). EVE comes to realize that WALL•E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet’s future, and races back to space to report to the humans. Meanwhile, WALL•E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most imaginative adventures ever brought to the big screen.
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10. ‘Soul‘ (2024)

Jamie Foxx voices Joe Gardner in Pixar’s ‘Soul’. Photo: Pixar.

Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) is a middle school teacher with a love for jazz music. After a successful audition at the Half Note Club, he suddenly gets into an accident that separates his soul from his body and is transported to the You Seminar, a center in which souls develop and gain passions before being transported to a newborn child. Joe must enlist help from the other souls-in-training, like 22 (Tina Fey), a soul who has spent eons in the You Seminar, in order to get back to Earth.
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9. ‘Toy Story 4‘ (2019)

Woody (Tom Hanks) has always been confident about his place in the world and that his priority is taking care of his kid, whether that’s Andy or Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw). But when Bonnie adds a reluctant new toy called “Forky” (Tony Hale) to her room, a road trip adventure alongside old and new friends will show Woody how big the world can be for a toy.
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8. ‘Ratatouille‘ (2007)

Remy (Patton Oswalt), a resident of Paris, appreciates good food and has quite a sophisticated palate. He would love to become a chef so he can create and enjoy culinary masterpieces to his heart’s delight. The only problem is, Remy is a rat. When he winds up in the sewer beneath one of Paris’ finest restaurants, the rodent gourmet finds himself ideally placed to realize his dream.
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7. ‘Coco‘ (2017)

Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt). Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector (Gael García Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.
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6. ‘Toy Story 3‘ (2010)

Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), and the rest of Andy’s toys haven’t been played with in years. With Andy about to go to college, the gang find themselves accidentally left at a nefarious day care center. The toys must band together to escape and return home to Andy.
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5. ‘Finding Nemo‘ (2003)

(L to R) Albert Brooks voices Marlin and Ellen DeGeneres voices Dory in ‘Finding Nemo’. Photo: Pixar Studios.

Nemo (Alexander Gould), an adventurous young clownfish, is unexpectedly taken from his Great Barrier Reef home to a dentist’s office aquarium. It’s up to his worrisome father Marlin (Albert Brooks) and a friendly but forgetful fish Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) to bring Nemo home — meeting vegetarian sharks, surfer dude turtles, hypnotic jellyfish, hungry seagulls, and more along the way.
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4. ‘Inside Out‘ (2015)

When 11-year-old Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) moves to a new city, her Emotions team up to help her through the transition. Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith) work together, but when Joy and Sadness get lost, they must journey through unfamiliar places to get back home.
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3. ‘The Incredibles‘ (2004)

Bob Parr (Craig T. Nelson) has given up his superhero days to log in time as an insurance adjuster and raise his three children (Sarah Vowell, Spencer Fox and Eli Fucile) with his formerly heroic wife (Holly Hunter) in suburbia. But when he receives a mysterious assignment, it’s time to get back into costume.
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2. ‘Up‘ (2009)

Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner) spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named Russell (Jordan Nagai)) gives him a new lease on life.
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1. ‘Toy Story‘ (1995)

(L to R) Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) in Pixar Animation Studios’ ‘Toy Story.’

Led by Woody (Tom Hanks), Andy’s toys live happily in his room until Andy’s birthday brings Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) onto the scene. Afraid of losing his place in Andy’s heart, Woody plots against Buzz. But when circumstances separate Buzz and Woody from their owner, the duo eventually learns to put aside their differences.
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June 25, 2025
‘Toy Story 5’ Adds Conan O’Brien to Cast
Conan O’Brien hosts the live ABC telecast of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Credit/Provider: Trae Patton / The Academy; Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

Preview:
- Conan O’Brien has landed a voice role in ‘Toy Story 5.’
- He’ll bring the character of Smarty Pants to life.
- The new movie will see our heroes challenged by new technology.
The ‘Toy Story’ movies have never exactly been short on star power, starting at the top with Tom Hanks and Tim Allen playing iconic duo Woody and Buzz Lightyear.

For the fifth entry –– yes, Pixar, while still putting out original movies is still also happy to lean on its veteran franchises when the right idea strikes –– some new blood has been recruited.
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Well, we say new… It’s perhaps a little tough to use that designator since Conan O’Brien (for it is he) has been working since the 1980s and has made a career largely as a comedy writer but also as a TV host for late night and a variety of other projects, including returning to host next year’s Academy Awards after a successful first time this past March.

For ‘Toy Story 5,’ O’Brien will voice the role of a new character called Smarty Pants, who we can imagine will be a witty but probably troublesome type for our regulars to run up against.

Disney announced O’Brien’s casting as part of the Consumer Products section of its Licensing Expo presentation on Monday. And the performer talked about landing the role on Instagram, joking that he’d hoped to play either Buzz or Woody, but is now convinced that Smarty Pants is the best role he could have won:

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Andrew Stanton, the Pixar veteran who has been behind several of the studio’s biggest hits, is back to write and direct this new outing.

Related Article: Ernie Hudson to Take Over as the Voice of Combat Carl for ‘Toy Story 5’

What’s the story of ‘Toy Story 5’?

(L to R) Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) in Pixar Animation Studios’ ‘Toy Story.’

In case you forgot (since it was released back in 2019), ‘Toy Story 4’ ended with Woody and Buzz parting ways when the former joined Bo Peep (Annie Potts) to live a life as a “lost toy,” free from the constraints of being owned by a child.

Throughout the film, Woody struggled to find his place with Bonnie, as she no longer needed him as much as Andy did. Buzz, understanding Woody’s choice, assured him that Bonnie would be okay without him and supported Woody’s decision to start a new chapter.

Meanwhile, Buzz stayed with Bonnie, continuing to live with Jessie, Rex (Wallace Shawn), Hamm (John Ratzenberger) and other toys, including the new addition of Forky (Tony Hale).

Stanton revealed at the last D23 that the central conflict of the latest film will involve the toys grappling with staying relevant in the age of technology.

The concept art revealed at the same event shows the toys looking sadly at their owner engrossed in a tablet, hinting at the emotional and humorous struggles they will face as they try to reclaim the child’s attention.

And Tim Allen has also been talking about the new movie.

This is what he told Collider:

“It’s a very, very clever story. I don’t really believe it’s about the money. I’m sure they want it to be a success, but that’s not why they did it. Had they not come up with a brilliant script, they wouldn’t have done it. It’s really clever. It was really a struggle to get, and then maybe two hours in, I was doing Buzz. I’m so blessed to be Buzz Lightyear, to be honest. It’s gonna be fun. I think we’re a year out. I’ve gotten up to the third act. We’ll do the third act. And then, we’ll go back and clean it. And then, I’ll do it about five more times. It’s a really good story, guys. It’s really good.”

Here’s what what he told news channel WIVB 4:

“I can tell you that it’s a lot about Jessie,” he said. “Tom [Hanks] and I do — Woody and I — do realign. And there’s an unbelievable opening scene with Buzz Lightyears. I can give you that, but I can’t give you much more.”

Who else is working on ‘Toy Story 5’?

Ernie Hudson Jr. at the London photocall of Columbia Pictures’ ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ on March 21, 2024 in London, England. Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for Columbia Pictures.

Few other details have been revealed about the new movie for either side of the camera.

We do know that McKenna Harris, who has worked on several other Pixar titles in various capabilities, is co-directing the movie with Stanton, and the latter worked on the script.

Beyond Allen and more recently Ernie Hudson (who inherits the role of Combat Carl from Carl Weathers), there has been no confirmation on the cast, but Hanks will naturally return and word on Jessie surely points to Joan Cusack already having recorded some material.

We’d be shocked if most of the main voice cast –– at least those whose characters feature prominently –– wouldn’t be back.

And there are reports of Anna Faris in an undisclosed role.

When will ‘Toy Story 5’ be in theaters?

Disney and Pixar’s latest entry in the ‘Toy Story’ franchise will be on screens on June 19th, 2026.

‘Toy Story 5’. Photo: Disney.

List of Movies in the ‘Toy Story’ Franchise:
- ‘Toy Story‘ (1995)
- ‘Toy Story 2‘ (1999)
- ‘Toy Story 3‘ (2010)
- ‘Toy Story of Terror!‘ (2014)
- ‘Toy Story 4‘ (2019)
- ‘Lightyear‘ (2022)
Buy ‘Toy Story’ Movies On Amazon
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May 22, 2025
‘Ghostbusters’ Ernie Hudson joins ‘Toy Story 5’
Ernie Hudson Jr. at the London photocall of Columbia Pictures’ ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ on March 21, 2024 in London, England. Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for Columbia Pictures.

Preview:
- Ernie Hudson will be the voice of Combat Carl in ‘Toy Story 5.’
- Carl Weathers previously played the role.
- The new ‘Toy Story’ is due out next year.
While ‘Elio’ is the next Pixar project to hit the big screen (June 20th, in case you were wondering), there is naturally a lot of attention on the company’s next dive into franchise territory, and one of its biggest hitters returning to theaters with ‘Toy Story 5’ due next year.
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With Woody, Buzz and the gang back for more adventure, word arrives via TMZ of all places that there has been some necessary recasting among the voice ranks for the new movie.

Carl Weathers is Greef Karga in ‘The Mandalorian,’ season two, exclusively on Disney+

Following the sad death last year of Carl Weathers, the role of Combat Carl –– which Weathers performed in the 2013 TV special ‘Toy Story of Terror!’ and the most recent big screen outing, ‘Toy Story 4,’ genre stalwart Ernie Hudson will instead report for duty to provide the voice for the military man.

It’s not the first piece of re-casting in the ‘Toy Story’ world, since Blake Clark took over the role of Slinky Dog from the late Jim Varney a few years ago.

Related Article: Ernie Hudson Talks ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ and the Franchise’s Legacy

What’s the story of ‘Toy Story 5’?

(L to R) Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) in Pixar Animation Studios’ ‘Toy Story.’

In case you forgot (since it was released back in 2019), ‘Toy Story 4’ ended with Woody and Buzz parting ways when the former joined Bo Peep (Annie Potts) to live a life as a “lost toy,” free from the constraints of being owned by a child.

Throughout the film, Woody struggled to find his place with Bonnie, as she no longer needed him as much as Andy did. Buzz, understanding Woody’s choice, assured him that Bonnie would be okay without him and supported Woody’s decision to start a new chapter.

Meanwhile, Buzz stayed with Bonnie, continuing to live with Jessie, Rex (Wallace Shawn), Hamm (John Ratzenberger) and other toys, including the new addition of Forky (Tony Hale).

Director Andrew Stanton, returning to the franchise for the first time in years, revealed at the last D23 that the central conflict of the latest film will involve the toys grappling with staying relevant in the age of technology.

The concept art revealed at the same event shows the toys looking sadly at their owner engrossed in a tablet, hinting at the emotional and humorous struggles they will face as they try to reclaim the child’s attention.

And Tim Allen has also been talking about the new movie.

This is what he told Collider:

“It’s a very, very clever story. I don’t really believe it’s about the money. I’m sure they want it to be a success, but that’s not why they did it. Had they not come up with a brilliant script, they wouldn’t have done it. It’s really clever. It was really a struggle to get, and then maybe two hours in, I was doing Buzz. I’m so blessed to be Buzz Lightyear, to be honest. It’s gonna be fun. I think we’re a year out. I’ve gotten up to the third act. We’ll do the third act. And then, we’ll go back and clean it. And then, I’ll do it about five more times. It’s a really good story, guys. It’s really good.”

Here’s what he told news channel WIVB 4:

“I can tell you that it’s a lot about Jessie,” he said. “Tom [Hanks] and I do — Woody and I — do realign. And there’s an unbelievable opening scene with Buzz Lightyears. I can give you that, but I can’t give you much more.”

Who else is working on ‘Toy Story 5’?

(L-R) Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear, Buzz Lightyear, and Woody from ‘Toy Story 3.’ ©Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Few other details have been revealed about the new movie for either side of the camera.

We do know that McKenna Harris, who has worked on several other Pixar titles in various capabilities, is co-directing the movie with Stanton, and the latter worked on the script.

Beyond Allen and now Hudson, there has been no confirmation on the cast, but Hanks will return and word on Jessie surely points to Joan Cusack already having recorded some material.

We’d be shocked if most of the main voice cast –– at least those whose characters feature prominently –– wouldn’t be back.

Where else have we seen Ernie Hudson?

(L to R) Winston (Ernie Hudson) and Peter (Bill Murray) in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.’ Photo By Jaap Buitendijk. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Hudson needs little introduction, though among his more famous genre credits are the likes of ‘Ghostbusters’ [1984], ‘The Crow’ [1994], ‘Miss Congeniality,’ ‘Congo,’ ‘The Hand that Rocks the Cradle,’ and ‘The Jazz Singer.’

On the small screen, he’s been seen in shows including the more recent take on ‘Quantum Leap,’ ‘Grace and Frankie’ and voiced a character in ‘Transformers Prime.’

When will ‘Toy Story 5’ be in theaters?

Disney and Pixar’s latest entry in the ‘Toy Story’ franchise will be on screens on June 19th, 2026.

‘Toy Story 5’. Photo: Disney.

List of Movies in the ‘Toy Story’ Franchise:
- ‘Toy Story‘ (1995)
- ‘Toy Story 2‘ (1999)
- ‘Toy Story 3‘ (2010)
- ‘Toy Story of Terror!‘ (2014)
- ‘Toy Story 4‘ (2019)
- ‘Lightyear‘ (2022)
Buy ‘Toy Story’ Movies On Amazon
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April 22, 2025
Quentin Tarantino Debunks “Misinformation” About ‘Star Trek’ and More
Oscar® nominee, Quentin Tarantino arrives on the red carpet of The 92nd Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 9, 2020. Credit/Provider: Nick Agro / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

Preview:
- Quentin Tarantino shot down some rumors in a new interview.
- He denies casting Paul Walter Hauser in scrapped film ‘The Movie Critic’.
- He also talks about theater plans.
Quentin Tarantino is not a man to be shy about his opinions. The outspoken writer/director behind the likes of ‘Reservoir Dogs’, ‘Pulp Fiction’ and the more recent ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’ has emerged occasionally to talk about favorite movies or his own work.

On a recent interview for Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast, Tarantino opened up on a variety of subjects, including what he sees as “misinformation” about movies he’d been considering. Oh, and in a very grumpy old man style, he also talked ‘Toy Story’ of all things.

Related Article: Quentin Tarantino Scraps Plans to Make ‘The Movie Critic’ Next

Quentin Tarantino on ‘Star Trek’

1979’s ‘Star Trek: The Motion Picture.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Though chatter began back in 2017 about Tarantino conceiving and potentially directing a ‘Star Trek’ movie for Paramount, the seemingly endless churn of development and lack of a clear plan for the franchise’s future seemingly scuttled his ambitions.

This is what he said on the subject and the wider topic of misinformation about what he’s up to:

“Well, it’s never going to happen, but there has been so much misinformation about what it was going to be, nothing but misinformation. Because I’m not on Instagram and social media, consequently, if you’re Joe Schlomoko and you’re a transient reporter of some kind, if you hear Quentin is going to do a ‘Star Trek’ film or ‘The Movie Critic’ or anything, it’s a lot like that guy who wrote that Howard Hughes biography that ended up being a hoax.”

Quentin Tarantino on ‘The Movie Critic’

Tom Cruise attends the Abu Dhabi Red Carpet and Premiere of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ presented by Paramount Pictures and Skydance at Emirates Palace Hotel on June 26, 2023, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Photo by Darren Arthur/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures.

Another topic widely reported was his plan to make his “final” film, and for a while it looked like it would be ‘The Movie Critic’, based around a writer the younger Tarantino used to read, who reviewed regular films in an adult magazine.

Speculation swirled around casting, including mentions of Tom Cruise being involved, Brad Pitt’s Cliff Booth character from ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’ and Paul Walter Hauser playing the critic.

Here’s the director dismissing those ideas:

“They can say anything. ‘Quentin is going to cast Tom Cruise, it’s for sure. The thing that was kind of funny about ‘The Movie Critic’ that I was going to cast Paul Walter Hauser… they just think he looks like a critic, so that’s why they picked him!”

Quentin Tarantino on future endeavors

Quentin Tarantino on the set of ‘Django Unchained.’

So with the opportunity to talk openly about anything he wanted, he was also quizzed about what he wants to do next.

And from the sounds of it, the idea that he’ll be making his tenth –– and, according to the man himself –– final movie, could be further off than we thought.

Here’s his mention of theater musings:

“I’m leaning more towards writing— or trying for a while—theater. And in theater, it would be funny stuff.”

According to Tarantino, he’s also considering mining his past for theatrical shows, with an idea to turn his expanded novelizations of his movies into potential stage productions.

Quentin Tarantino on ‘Toy Story’

(L to R) Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) in Pixar Animation Studios’ ‘Toy Story.’

Finally, and most surprisingly, the filmmaker turned his attention to Pixar’s most famous franchise, and his love for the trilogy starring Buzz, Woody and the gang.

This is what he said:

“In the case of ‘Toy Story,’ the third one is just magnificent. It’s one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. And if you’ve seen the other two, it’s just devastating. But the thing is, then three years later or something, they did a fourth. I have no desire to see it. You literally ended the story as perfect as you could, so no, I don’t care if it’s good. I’m done.”

Sssh… Nobody tell him about ‘Toy Story 5’, due in theaters in 2026!
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Quentin Tarantino accepts the Oscar® for original screenplay for “Django Unchained” during the live ABC Telecast of The Oscars® from the Dolby® Theatre, in Hollywood, CA, Sunday, February 24, 2013.

Other Movies Directed by Quentin Tarantino:
- ‘Reservoir Dogs‘ (1992)
- ‘Pulp Fiction‘ (1994)
- ‘Jackie Brown‘ (1997)
- ‘Kill Bill: Vol. 1‘ (2003)
- ‘Kill Bill: Vol. 2‘ (2004)
- ‘Death Proof‘ (2007)
- ‘Inglourious Basterds‘ (2009)
- ‘Django Unchained‘ (2012)
- ‘The Hateful Eight‘ (2015)
- ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood‘ (2019)
Buy Quentin Tarantino Movies on Amazon
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August 28, 2024
Tim Allen To Reprise His Role As Buzz Lightyear
(L-R) Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear, Buzz Lightyear, and Woody from ‘Toy Story 3.’ ©Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

To infinity and beyond … again!

A ‘Toy Story’ sequel was recently announced by Disney CEO Bob Iger during the Q1 earnings call, along with ‘Frozen’ and ‘Zootopia’. “We’ll have more to share about these productions soon, but this is a great example of how we’re leaning into our unrivaled brands and franchises”. This will mark the fifth installment for the Pixar franchise, the third for ‘Frozen,’ and the second for ‘Zootopia.’

Shortly after the announcement, actor Tim Allen took to his personal Twitter account to express his excitement and hinted at the reunion with Tom Hanks:

“See ya soon Woody, you are a sad strange little man and you have my pity. And off we go to a number 5! To infinity and beyond!”
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Allen originated the voice of the space commander action figure in 1995 alongside actor Tom Hanks, who plays Woody. Since then, Allen has been a part of every ‘Toy Story’ sequel except for ‘Lightyear’, the origin story of how the Buzz Lightyear toy came to be.

‘Lightyear’ cast Chris Evans to voice the title character, mainly because that Buzz isn’t exactly the same Buzz that we know in ‘Toy Story.’ Spoilers ahead, so you’ve been warned. ‘Lightyear’ is about space ranger Buzz Lightyear who is trying to find his way home after being lost in space travel and his adventure along the way. The “fictional” movie is the movie that Andy saw as a child, and that movie inspired the toy version of the Buzz Lightyear we see in ‘Toy Story.’

The movie opened domestically at $50.5 million and has grossed $226.4 million worldwide. Many fans were disappointed that Allen was not cast as the voice for Buzz in ‘Lightyear’. The actor finally broke his silence on the topic in an interview with Extra:

“The short answer is I’ve stayed out of this ’cause it has nothing to do (with my Buzz Lightyear).”

Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans) in Disney and Pixar’s ‘Lightyear,’ which opens in U.S. theaters on June 17, 2022. © 2021 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Related Articles: ‘Frozen’ ‘Toy Story,’ and ‘Zootopia’ Sequels Are In The Works

A Look At Toy Story’s Success

The first ‘Toy Story’ opened in November 1995 to $223.2 million. It was the first feature film by Pixar, and also the first film to use computer animation entirely. The toys belonged to Andy, a boy who loved playing with his toys but especially Woody – a pull-string cowboy (voiced by Tom Hanks). When new toy Buzz Lightyear was introduced to the group, chaos ensued because Buzz did not believe he was a toy but in fact, a real Space Ranger. Being the new toy with all the bells and whistles, Buzz got a lot of attention from Andy and fellow toys making Woody jealous.

‘Toy Story’ received three Academy Award nominations including Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Song, and Best Original Score. The film was a hit across the board and today, it remains at a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The follow-up ‘Toy Story’ films continue to receive praise and win awards, including Academy Awards for ‘Toy Story 3‘ (Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song).

No word yet on who else will return to ‘Toy Story 5‘ or when the film will begin production.

See ya soon Woody, you are a sad strange little man and you have my pity. And off we go to a number 5! To infinity and beyond! pic.twitter.com/bwRzE487Vi

— Tim Allen (@ofctimallen) February 9, 2023

Other Movies Similar to ‘Toy Story 5:’
- ‘Toy Story‘ (1995)
- ‘Toy Story 2‘ (1999)
- ‘Toy Story 3‘ (2010)
- ‘Toy Story 4‘ (2019)
- ‘Lightyear‘ (2022)
Buy ‘Toy Story’ Movies On Amazon
February 13, 2023
‘Frozen’ ‘Toy Story,’ and ‘Zootopia’ Sequels Are In The Works
(L to R) Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel) in Walt Disney Pictures’ ‘Frozen.’

Get ready to head back into the unknown. Disney animated films ‘Frozen,’ ‘Toy Story,’ and ‘Zootopia‘ have been greenlit for sequels. The news was announced during Wednesday’s Q1 earnings call by Disney CEO Bob Iger, his first since returning to the company.

“Today I’m so pleased to announce that we have sequels in the works from our animation studios to some of our most popular franchises, ‘Toy Story,’ ‘Frozen’ and ‘Zootopia,’” says Iger. “We’ll have more to share about these productions soon, but this is a great example of how we’re leaning into our unrivaled brands and franchises.”

‘Frozen’ quickly became a household favorite when it premiered in 2013. With Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel as its leads, the sequel ‘Frozen 2’ garnered just as much attention in 2019. It got so popular that the musical version made its way to Disneyland’s Hyperion Theater and later to Broadway. ‘Toy Story’ stars the voices Tom Hanks and Tim Allen as Woody and Buzz Lightyear, becoming a beloved franchise since its debut in 1995. It even expanded its own universe with the release of ‘Lightyear’ in 2022 with Chris Evans as the lead.
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Related Articles: D23 Expo 2022: Disney Studios Presentation

The Box Office Success Of ‘Frozen’, ‘Toy Story’, and ‘Zootopia’

This should come as no surprise as all three films have had major success at the box office worldwide. ‘Frozen’ (2013) earned 1.2 billion with its sequel ‘Frozen 2’ (2019) earning 1.4 billion, and both ‘Toy Story 4’ (2019) and ‘Zootopia’ (2016) grossed over one billion.

On top of their financial success, these films have all taken home plenty of awards. ‘Toy Story 3,’ ‘Toy Story 4,’ ‘Frozen,’ and ‘Zootopia’ have all received Best Animated Feature at the Oscars. Frozen’s hit original song “Let It Go” (sung by Broadway superstar Idina Menzel) won Best Original Song at the 2020 Academy Awards.

The animation giant has released plenty of amazing titles such as ‘Luca,’ ‘Raya and the Last Dragon‘ and ‘Encanto,’ which also won Best Animated Feature at the 2022 Academy Awards. However popular, none of these titles were able to achieve the financial success of the aforementioned films.

(L to R) Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) in y Pixar Animation Studios’ ‘Toy Story.’
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But Do We Need More Sequels?

Some may say there’s no need for a sequel to these films but I think, there are plenty of stories left to tell. What type of adventures (or misadventures) can the sisters get into now that Elsa is the Snow Queen and Anna rules as the Queen of Arendelle? How expansive has Zoopotia become since the last film? And while Woody and Buzz may have parted ways (for now), there’s always something that brings the duo back together, plus we all would love to see a post-college Andy.

Those who are craving original stories can look forward to Pixar’s ‘Elemental’ this summer and ‘Wish’ from Walt Disney Animation in the fall.

(L to R) Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nicholas P. “Nick” Wilde (Jason Bateman) in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ ‘Zootopia.’
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Other Movies Similar to ‘Frozen’ and ‘Toy Story:’
- ‘Frozen II‘ (2019)
- ‘Toy Story 2‘ (1999)
- ‘Toy Story 3‘ (2010)
- ‘Toy Story 4‘ (2019)
- ‘Lightyear‘ (2022)
Buy Disney Animated Movies On Amazon
February 9, 2023
Movie Review: ‘Lightyear’

Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans) in Disney and Pixar’s ‘Lightyear,’ which opens in U.S. theaters on June 17, 2022. © 2021 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Opening in theaters on June 17th is the spinoff to Pixar’s popular ‘Toy Story’ franchise entitled ‘Lightyear.’

Directed by Angus MacLane (‘Finding Dory’), the new movie is a representation of the in-world blockbuster film that inspired the Buzz Lightyear toy Andy played with in the ‘Toy Story’ franchise, and stars Chris Evans (‘Avengers: Infinity War’) as the voice of Buzz Lightyear.

In addition to Evans, the voice cast also includes Keke Palmer, Peter Sohn, Uzo Aduba, James Brolin, Dale Soules, and Taika Waititi. The result is a fun movie that doesn’t recapture the magic of the ‘Toy Story’ franchise but is still an entertaining animated adventure.

The film begins by introducing us to Buzz Lightyear (Evans), a Space Ranger exploring a new planet with his commanding officer Alisha Hawthorne (Aduba). When danger strikes, Buzz does his best to save his spaceship full of civilians and escape the planet but they are ultimately marooned. Blaming himself, Buzz and Alisha work with the survivors to build a new civilization on the strange planet and rebuild their spacecraft so they can go home.

Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans) in ‘Lightyear.’ Disney and Pixar’s ‘Lightyear’ releases June 17, 2022. © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

However, when Buzz tests the new ship he realizes that every time he attempts to leave the planet, he is thrusted into the future by four years. Refusing to fail, Buzz attempts to leave again dozens of times, until eventually, Alisha grows old and dies. After Buzz’s latest attempt, he realizes the planet has been invaded by the evil Emperor Zurg (Brolin). Now, Buzz must team-up with Alisha’s granddaughter Izzy (Palmer), Mo Morrison (Waititi), Darby Steel (Soules), and a robotic cat named Sox (Sohn) and learn to work together in order to defeat Zurg and free the planet forever.

As a standalone Pixar animated adventure, ‘Lightyear’ completely soars, but is undermined by the filmmakers’ choice to shoehorn it into the ‘Toy Story’ franchise. The film opens with a title card that explains ‘Lightyear’ is the in-world movie that inspired the Buzz Lightyear toy, which Andy played with in the original ‘Toy Story’ movies. The idea that this movie is Andy’s ‘Star Wars’ or even ‘Independence Day’ is laughable, and it’s hard to see how young Andy would fall in love with this movie.

Another question that arises from making ‘Lightyear’ the movie that inspired the Buzz Lightyear toy is why doesn’t the character in the “movie” sound like the toy? Typically, when a voice-activated toy is release from a movie, that toy has the voice of the actor that played him in the movie. So, why isn’t Tim Allen the voice of the real Buzz Lightyear? Also, since ‘Lightyear’ is the movie the toy is based on, it means Chris Evans wasn’t actually playing Buzz, he was really playing an actor playing the title character. Best not to think about that one too much.

That being said, whoever Evans is actually playing, he does a great job of making the role his own, while honoring what Tim Allen did before him. It’s also clever casting because there are a lot of similarities between Buzz and Evans’ signature character, Steve Rogers/Captain America. Both characters are government heroes, lost in time, just trying to get home to their loved ones. There is also a comparison to be made to his “Old Man Steve” character from ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ but to talk too much about that would give away spoilers.

(L to R) Izzy Hawthorne (voice of Keke Palmer), Sox (voice of Peter Sohn), Mo Morrison (voice of Taika Waititi), Dale Soules (voice of Darby Steel), and Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans) in ‘Lightyear.’ ‘Lightyear’ releases June 17, 2022. © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

An overall issue I’ve had with Pixar in the past is that they come up with great concepts, and then abandon them halfway through to introduce a cute character that will sell a lot of merchandise. ‘Soul’ is a great example of that, with a truly original concept, but then introducing an adorable cat halfway through. So, I was skeptical when Sox (voiced by Peter Sohn) was introduced about 30min into ‘Lightyear.’ However, I’m happy to say that Sox really works and is a great addition to the story. Yes, it’s another example of Pixar adding a cute animal to its cast, but it doesn’t feel out of place at all and the character definitely steals every scene he’s in.

Rounding out the supporting cast are some really lovely performances from Uzo Aduba and Keke Palmer, as Commander Alisha and her granddaughter Izzy, respectively, who are really the emotional core of the movie. Taika Waititi and Dale Soules are also scene stealers with their wonderful characters of Mo and Darby, who bring the funny with their off-the-wall performances.

James Brolin is fine as the voice of Emperor Zurg, but it’s the characters final reveal that bothers me. Again, to say too much would lead to spoilers, but let’s just say that I saw the film’s big twist coming from a million lightyears away. It’s an interesting idea, but I feel like we’ve seen that twist before and it doesn’t lead to the ‘Empire Strikes Back’ moment that was probably intended. The reveal also puts the integrity of the movie’s lead character in jeopardy.

Don’t get me wrong, ‘Lightyear’ is a really fun and exciting adventure movie, with beautiful animation and a cast of really interesting characters, but in the end, suffers from its desire to remind you its set in the ‘Toy Story’ universe.

(L to R) Buzz Lightyear (Voice of Chris Evans) and Emperor Zurg (James Brolin) in Disney and Pixar’s ‘Lightyear.’ ‘Lightyear’ releases June 17, 2022. © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

‘Lightyear’ receives 4 out of 5 stars.
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June 18, 2022
Chris Evans Talks ‘Lightyear’

Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear” releases on June 17, 2022. © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Opening in theaters on June 17th is the spinoff to Pixar’s popular ‘Toy Story’ franchise entitled ‘Lightyear.’ The new movie is a representation of the in-world blockbuster film that inspired the Buzz Lightyear toy Andy played with in the ‘Toy Story’ franchise.

The film stars Chris Evans (‘Avengers: Endgame’) as Buzz Lightyear, and also includes the voice talents of Keke Palmer, Peter Sohn, Uzo Aduba, James Brolin, and Taika Waititi.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Chris Evans about his work on ‘Lightyear.’
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You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Evans, Uzo Aduba, Keke Palmer, James Brolin, Taika Waititi, producer Galyn Susman, and writer/director Angus MacLane.

Moviefone: To begin with, when you first saw an image of Buzz’s cat Sox, did you think he looked like your dog Dodger, because they both have white feet?

Chris Evans: Yeah, I liked the coloring on the cat. I was like, “I wonder if that was a little tribute to Dodger.” Whether it was, or it wasn’t, it made me happy. I had seen some images. I kind of knew it was coming. It seems like he steals the movie. So, I was really happy for him.

MF: Can you talk about the pressure of taking on the iconic role of Buzz Lightyear?

CE: Oh, yeah, enormous pressure. I mean, I’m a fan first. So, I love what Tim Allen did. We all did. I mean that’s why the character is so iconic. It’s why it’s worthy of a standalone movie. So, you have to acknowledge the great work he did.

The truth is this isn’t James Bond where I’m just taking a character we know but making a completely new interpretation. This character is supposed to be the character the toy’s based on. So, you have to acknowledge that overlap and use what Tim Allen did as a compass, and I’d be a fool not to. I mean, he did such a good job. It’ll never not be Tim Allen. But that doesn’t mean it’s not terrifying and intimidating.

(L-R) Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear, Buzz Lightyear, and Woody from ‘Toy Story 3.’ ©Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

MF: Were there any aspects of Tim Allen’s version of Buzz Lightyear that you adopted for your performance?

CE: All of them. I mean, I think my first recording session was just a shameless Tim Allen impression. You can’t help it. It’s what I know. With the dialogue, you just hear Tim Allen’s voice in your head. I still hear his voice in my head. I mean, he’s Buzz Lightyear! He is. So, you have to, not just pay your respects, but again, steal from him whenever you can.

The goal is to make a good movie. Tim set the bar. So, I’m going to borrow as much as I can. Because, again, it’s supposed to be the same character, so I can at least do it with the justification in my mind that I’m not being a lazy actor.

MF: The movie deals with a lot of themes including the importance of working together as a team. What was one the film’s themes that really resonated with you?

CE: That the mistakes you make in life don’t define you. That when you do make mistakes, it’s an opportunity for growth, as opposed to something to just feel shame and spiral into this sort of stagnant stillness. It’s actually a chance to evolve.

Chris Evans as Buzz Lightyear in Pixar’s ‘Lightyear,’ opening on June 17th. © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

MF: Finally, did you create a backstory for Buzz’s life on Earth before the events of the movie begin?

CE: Good question. I mean, of course. It’s pretty clear from even Tim Allen’s interpretation the type of man he was, probably the type of man he was since he was a child. I think Buzz is probably a character that when he was a little kid, he was the hall monitor. He’s probably class president. He’s a natural leader.

I imagine him to be a pretty austere, quotidian sort of guy who has a very regiment lifestyle. I just think there’s always a mission, and I think his goal is to climb a certain ladder to achieve a certain level of authority in order to help people. But I would picture him as a man that doesn’t have much time for relationships or pets or things like that, which is why the Sox dynamic is so funny.

Chris Evans voices Buzz Lightyear in Pixar’s ‘Lightyear,’ which opens in theaters on June 17th.
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June 13, 2022
New ‘Lightyear’ Trailer Lands

(L to R) Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans) and Alisha Hawthorne (voice of Uzo Aduba) in Disney and Pixar’s ‘Lightyear,’ which opens in U.S. theaters on June 17, 2022. © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

With each new trailer for Disney and Pixar’s ‘Lightyear’, we learn a little bit more about this latest animated release. And that continues with this third promo for the movie, which reveals that Buzz’s mission has a bigger twist than we imagined.

Pixar describes this new movie as “the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy.” In case you’re still wondering how this all connects to ‘Toy Story’s plastic Star Command toy, ‘Lightyear’ is a movie that Andy in the ‘Story’ world would have seen and craved the toy from.

The plot follows the legendary Space Ranger (Chris Evans) after he’s marooned on a hostile planet 4.2 million light-years from Earth alongside his commander (Uzo Aduba) 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 (Pixar veteran Peter Sohn). Complicating matters and threatening the mission is the arrival of Zurg, an imposing presence with an army of ruthless robots and a mysterious agenda.

In addition to that cast, there’s also Keke Palmer, Taika Waititi and Dale Soules lending their voices to the Junior Zap Patrol’s Izzy Hawthorne, Mo Morrison and Darby Steel, respectively, and James Brolin can be heard as Zurg. The voice cast also includes Mary McDonald-Lewis as onboard computer I.V.A.N., Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Commander Burnside, and Efren Ramirez as Airman Diaz.
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It’s Palmer as Izzy who is one of the key elements here, as the latest promo reveals that Buzz’s mission sends him hurtling, ‘Buck Rogers’-style into the future. Perhaps not as far as Buck, but Buzz certainly ends up a distance from his own time and working with people years ahead of where he took off (62 years and change, to be exact).

Izzy is the granddaughter of Commander Hawthorne, while the others are either part of a prison release program or sign up for the adventure. And Buzz will need all the help he can get with Zurg’s rampaging robots hunting them down.

Director Angus MacLane has been doing the rounds for the movie, talking about his influences for this latest Pixar adventure. “The visual aesthetic is a collection of different things, just stuff that I think is cool and fun and tactile,” MacLane tells The Wrap.

“You can see in the design of sci-fi, well there’s ‘Star Wars’ and then ‘Aliens’ combines real-world tactical military stuff with an industrial design functionality, that’s really interesting,” Maclane continued. “And, then when you get to ‘District 9,’ how it brings in more anime influence into that design aesthetic. And that’s pretty much a straight line from ‘Star Wars.’ And, then before that it’s ‘2001.’ There’s a lot of those feelings, but there’s a pocket in there in the ’80s of consumer electronics and there was just this wonderful sense of goofy push button chunk that I’ve always enjoyed.”

‘Lightyear’ will be in theaters – initially, only in theaters unlike other recent Pixar movies – on June 17th.

(L to R) Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans) and Alisha Hawthorne (voice of Uzo Aduba) in Disney and Pixar’s ‘Lightyear,’ which opens in U.S. theaters on June 17, 2022. © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
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April 21, 2022
New ‘Lightyear’ Trailer

Chris Evans in Pixar’s ‘Lightyear.’

While trying to avoid overloading on sequels, Pixar has found an interesting way to keep exploring the ‘Toy Story’ universe with this new movie about the “real” Buzz Lightyear. And there’s a new trailer for the adventure featuring the character, with the movie simply known as ‘Lightyear’.

Chris Evans provides the voice for Buzz here, marking this as a distinct, human take on the Star Command hero so memorably brought to life with the vocal tones of Tim Allen in the four ‘Toy Story’ movies. Here, the basic concept is that we’re watching one of the movies that the confused Buzz astronaut toy is based on.

The new trailer does shed a few more details on ‘Lightyear’s story, revealing that he and his Star Command team are stranded on an alien planet and looking for a way off, spending lots of time working on a craft that can escape the place, with the heroic Buzz in the pilot’s seat.

But even if he does manage to blast off safely, there are other challenges to be found, including a threat that very much looks like Emperor Zurg from ‘Toy Story’, which makes us wonder whether the toy’s comical reveal that he’s Buzz’s dad will hold true here. It’s still unknown, not least because the version of Zurg presented here mostly seems to be a dangerous android and not quite the Darth Vader-style baddie we’ve seen.
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Also new is more of a cast list for those around Evans. Keke Palmer, Dale Soules and Taika Waititi voice a group of ambitious recruits, while Pixar veteran/’The Good Dinosaur’ director Peter Sohn plays Buzz’s robot companion, Sox (who could be this movie’s answer to Baby Yoda).

Plus, there’s Uzo Aduba, James Brolin, Mary McDonald-Lewis, Efren Ramirez, and Isiah Whitlock Jr. “The cast for ‘Lightyear’ is truly a dream team,” says director Angus MacLane in a statement released alongside the new trailer. “Each of the performers immediately inhabited their character, which gave us the opportunity to play a bit during recording sessions. This resulted in a level of specificity that elevated the material and brought additional depth to the characters’ relationships. It has been a privilege to work with such a talented and generous cast.”

As for why MacLane decided to tap back into ‘Toy Story’s mythos but in a fresh way? “In ‘Toy Story,’ there seemed to be this incredible backstory to him being a Space Ranger that’s only touched upon, and I always wanted to explore that world further,” he says. “So, my ‘Lightyear’ pitch was, ‘What was the movie that Andy saw that made him want a Buzz Lightyear toy?’ I wanted to see that movie. And now I’m lucky enough to get to make it.”

Finally, we also now know that Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino, a long-time Pixar collaborator, is back again to provide the ‘Lightyear’ score.

‘Lightyear’ will be headed to infinity – and theaters – on June 17.
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February 8, 2022