Buzz Lightyear is getting an original story.
On Thursday (December 10), Disney made a number of exciting announcements about upcoming projects during the company's Investor Day event. In addition to updates on the Marvel and Star Wars franchises, Disney revealed a beloved Toy Story character is getting his own spin-off film.
According to Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter, Lightyear "is the definitive story of the original Buzz Lightyear," who inspired the toy that was voiced by Tim Allen in the original fourToy Story films. Chris Evans will voice Buzz Lightyear.
"Here’s a first look of the young test pilot that became the Space Ranger we all know him to be today," Pixar wrote on Twitter alongside a sneak peek at the upcoming film.
"I don’t even have the words," Evans tweeted after the news went public. "Just to be clear, this isn't Buzz Lightyear the toy. This is the origin story of the human Buzz Lightyear that the toy is based on."
The Captain America actor addressed the news on Instagram, as well, with a lengthy post about the project. "Working with Pixar is a dream come true. I’ve been a massive fan of their films since the very beginning," Evans wrote. "My team could barely contain their excitement when they told me that Pixar had a pitch for me. All they said was ‘Buzz Lightyear’. I didn’t know what that meant, since Tim Allen is Buzz Lightyear, and no one could ever touch his performance. I needed to know how this character was different and why this story was worth telling."
Evans said he could tell his followers "two things with absolute confidence" about the project. "I didn’t stop smiling through the entire pitch. Ear to ear," Evans wrote. "Everyone can rest easy. And get very excited."
"Trust me when I say that they really know what they’re doing over there," Evans concluded. "This one is gonna special, and it doesn’t step on a single thing. I can’t even put my excitement into words. I smile every time I think about it."
Lightyear is set to hit theaters in two years on June 17, 2022.
Photo: Getty