.jpg?q=50&fit=contain&w=1140&h=&dpr=1.5)
The first teaser for Lightyear has been released. The film, which will be out next summer, appears to be the origin story of the beloved turned to life toy, Buzz Lightyear that viewers see alongside the cowboy Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) in the Toy Story series. Lightyear will be voiced by Marvel alum Chris Evans instead of the character's original voice actor, Tim Allen, as he goes from a test pilot to the iconic Space Ranger fans know him as.
The initial reaction to the trailer and film has been mixed, some praising the style and look of the film, while others wonder if there's a need to make a film of Lightyear's origins, especially since it is touched upon in the original Toy Story series. But fans may not know that Buzz Lightyear's path from film character to children's toy follows a precedent already in the Toy Story films — one that began with his best friend Woody.
The original Toy Story didn't focus on Buzz Lightyear or Woody’s backstories — instead, the 1995 film focused on building a world where humans' toys are sentient, as well as establishing the now famous relationship and the dynamic between Buzz and Woody. The series second installment, Toy Story 2, puts the spotlight on Woody after he is stolen by a greedy toy collector named Al in the hopes of completing his collection. The film jumps back and forth between Woody’s time in Al's possession and Buzz and the rest of the toys' attempt to rescue the cowboy. In his new environment, Woody is introduced to a new set of toys like Jessie (voiced by Joan Cusack) and Stinky Pete (Kelsey Grammar.)
It's not long before Woody learns more about his significance and his origin story. While Woody is still a cowboy toy, it's revealed that he's a toy based on the main character in Woody's Roundup, a children's show from the 1950s. His newfound friends Jessie and Pete are also characters from the show, as well as Bullseye, a toy horse, and Woody’s trusty steed in Woody’s Roundup. With Woody in his possession, Al's collection is complete and is set to be sold to a museum in Japan that will display Woody and the other toys, cementing their legacy to the world. While Woody likes the idea of being remembered for years to come, he feels conflicted about leaving his friends like Buzz and Mr. Potato Head behind for the toys he was originally meant to be played with. Woody eventually heads back home with to owner, Andy, with Buzz and the gang.
So yes, Buzz Lightyear and his best friend Woody have similar structures to their origins as toys, but that doesn't mean that Lightyear will showcase the lore in the same way as Toy Story 2 — actually, it’s quite far from that. What separates Woody and Buzz’s story is their deliveries. The first Toy Story film laid the groundwork for a series that would break the fourth wall, especially when it examined the lives of a children’s toy collection, as well as those toys realizing their true purpose. But Toy Story 2 takes the meta to another level by having a toy (Woody) watch the show his entire being is based on.
Based on the recent and beautiful trailer, Lightyear is going in the opposite direction. Upon first glance, the film appears to be an origin story at its finest, with no mention of the character’s eventual mass production into toys. Lightyear will likely treat itself as its own entity, labeled as a spin-off of the Toy Story series but never mentioning toys. The film will be used to add more character and lore to a famous fictional character and make him more than just the sweet and quip-filled hero he is in the decades-spanning series. The decision to treat Lightyear as in the universe of Toy Story but not directly referencing the other films could also work to Disney and Pixar’s advantage. The decision allows the companies to tell a complete and detailed story based on a fan-favorite character, but try to combat against comments that it is an unneeded film.
Just from the glimpses that fans have been given, Lightyear is gearing up to be an interesting and if not gorgeous look into the background of Buzz that will span across planets and outer space. More will be learned as we approach the film’s release, like if other characters from Buzz’s story will be introduced — such as his arch-nemesis, the Evil Emperor Zurg. If Lightyear is successful, perhaps even Woody can get a spin-off film of his own.
Lightyear is scheduled to release in theaters on June 17th, 2022.