SNAPSHOT
To infinity and… The sci-fi action-adventure presents the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear—the hero who inspired the toy—introducing the legendary Space Ranger who would win generations of fans. Lightyear is directed by American animation filmmaker Angus MacLane, co-director on Finding Dory, and director of the shorts Toy Story of Terror and Burn-E, as well as work for years as an animator at the studio. The final screenplay credits have not been confirmed yet. Based on characters created by Pete Docter for the original Toy Story. Produced by Galyn Susman. (synopsis courtesy First Showing)
It’s goodbye Tim Allen, and hello Chris Evans as we leave Buzz Lightyear the toy behind – temporarily, of course; as if you could ever be Toy Story free for too long – and Pixar joins the big trend in cinema and gives us Buzz’s origin story.
Ordinarily I’m not entirely sure origin stories really add all that much to a character who has emerged in a particular story and who is usually happily defined by their place in that narrative.
Done well, and with respect to the source material, however, they can be a real treat, especially when a production house of the calibre and reputation of Pixar is behind it.
Soundtracked by David Bowie’s “Starman”, the trailer is an exciting appetiser for Lightyear which blasts off in June 2022 which frankly can’t come soon enough. (Thought to tide us over, we do have Pixar’s Turning Red coming in March next year – phew!)