Disney Pixar's Lightyear: The Origin Story of Buzz Lightyear Hits Theaters

Disney and Pixar's "Lightyear" is a sci-fi action adventure film directed by Angus MacLane, serving as the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy. The film follows Space Ranger Buzz (voiced by Chris Evans) on an intergalactic adventure alongside recruits Izzy Hawthorne (Keke Palmer), Mo Morrison (Taika Waititi), and Darby Steel (Dale Soules), and their robot companion Sox (Peter Sohn). The story begins with Buzz, his commander Alisha Hawthorne, and an crew of over a thousand scientists heading home after a mission. They divert course to the swampy planet T'Kani Prime, crash-land, and become stranded. Buzz is haunted by guilt over his mistake. The film features a retro 1980s aesthetic, blending retro and futuristic elements. Production designer John Duncan, who worked on Star Wars films, built a physical model of the spaceship to capture warmth. The cast also includes Uzo Aduba, James Brolin, Mary McDonald-Lewis, Efren Ramirez, and Isiah Whitlock Jr. Produced by Galyn Susman, "Lightyear" opened in U.S. theaters on June 17, 2022.