Tickets are now on sale for Pixar Animation Studios’ 26th feature film, Lightyear, and the studio has revealed the first clip featuring Buzz’s robot companion, Sox. Disney has also provided us with the IMAX, Dolby Cinema, and RealD 3D posters, which you can view by scrolling down.
Details were also revealed this morning about a special Lightyear early access screening, “The Andy Experience,” that will take place in over 500 IMAX and Premium Large Format theaters nationwide on Wednesday, June 15.
“The Andy Experience” will allow fans to be some of the first to see the film that set the classic Toy Story character’s love for the heroic Space Ranger in motion. Every guest will receive an exclusive piece of concept art created by the film’s production designer, Tim Evatt. Tickets for the special screening are available here.
The definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy, Lightyear follows the legendary Space Ranger after he’s marooned on a hostile planet 4.2 million light-years from Earth alongside his commander 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. Complicating matters and threatening the mission is the arrival of Zurg, an imposing presence with an army of ruthless robots and a mysterious agenda.
The June 17, 2022, release features the voices of Chris Evans as accomplished Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear, Uzo Aduba as his commander and best friend Alisha Hawthorne, and Peter Sohn as Sox.
Keke Palmer, Taika Waititi, and Dale Soules lend their voices to the Junior Zap Patrol’s Izzy Hawthorne, Mo Morrison, and Darby Steel, respectively, and James Brolin can be heard as the enigmatic Zurg.
The voice cast also includes Mary McDonald-Lewis as onboard computer I.V.A.N., Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Commander Burnside, Efren Ramirez as Airman Diaz, and Keira Hairston as Young Izzy.
The film is directed by Angus MacLane (co-director of Finding Dory) and produced by Galyn Susman (Toy Story That Time Forgot). It features a score by award-winning composer Michael Giacchino (The Batman, Up).
“Buzz’s world was always something I was excited about,” said Lightyear movie director Angus MacLane previously. “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 added: “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. 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.”
“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.
“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.”
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.