A new trailer has blasted off for Disney and Pixar’s highly-anticipated Lightyear movie, which will be opening in theaters on June 17, 2022. You can watch the trailer on YouTube, and you’ll find the new poster by scrolling down.
The original sci-fi action adventure is the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy and follows the legendary Space Ranger on an intergalactic adventure.
“Buzz’s world was always something I was excited about,” said Lightyear movie director Angus MacLane. “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.
“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.”
Joining the previously-announced Chris Evans, who lends his voice to Buzz, are Keke Palmer, Dale Soules, and Taika Waititi as a group of ambitious recruits.
Peter Sohn voices Buzz’s robot companion, Sox, and the cast also includes the voices of Uzo Aduba, James Brolin, Mary McDonald-Lewis, Efren Ramirez, and Isiah Whitlock Jr.
“The cast for ‘Lightyear’ is truly a dream team,” added MacLane. “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.”
Also revealed this morning, award-winning composer Michael Giacchino, who’s behind the scores for the upcoming film The Batman, as well as Spider-Man: No Way Home, is on board to score Lightyear.
Giacchino has a long history with Pixar; he won an Oscar, Golden Globe, and GRAMMY for the original score in Up. His other Pixar credits include The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Cars 2, Inside Out, Coco, and Incredibles 2, among others. The Lightyear Original Motion Picture Soundtrack from Walt Disney Records will be available on June 17, 2022.
“The phrase ‘a dream come true’ gets thrown around a lot, but I’ve never meant it more in my life. Anyone who knows me knows that my love for animated films runs deep,” said Chris Evans previously.
“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 every day.”
Annie Award-winning director and veteran Pixar animator Angus MacLane co-directed 2016’s Finding Dory. Galyn Susman (Toy Story That Time Forgot short) produces Lightyear.
It makes sense that Disney would want to continue the Toy Story franchise, which has already grossed more than $3 billion worldwide for the company.
The franchise consists of four CG-animated films, including Toy Story (1995), Toy Story 2 (1999), Toy Story 3 (2010), and Toy Story 4 (2019). The first installment was the first feature-length film to be made entirely using computer-generated footage.
The first two movies were directed by John Lasseter, the third film by Lee Unkrich (who was co-director on the second film with Ash Brannon), and the fourth movie was helmed by Josh Cooley.
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills in 2018 to cover the latest news on streaming, movies, TV, and video games.