Chris Evans admits his first attempt at the Buzz Lightyear voice was a “shameless Tim Allen impression”
Evans voices the iconic character in Disney/Pixar's new film Lightyear
Aux News Chris Evans
Chris Evans goes to infinity… and beyond as the voice of Buzz Lightyear in Disney/Pixar’s new film Lightyear. But, he admitted, stepping into the spacesuit for the character originally voiced by Tim Allen was no easy task at first.
“The first time you have to do that iconic line, ‘To Infinity and Beyond…,’ you kind of just do a shameless Tim Allen impression. It’s intimidating,” Evans told Variety.
A certain brazenly macho tone has become synonymous with Buzz since the first Toy Story film premiered in 1995, all thanks to Allen’s vocal performance over the course of the four-film franchise.
Evans said that the support of Lightyear director Angus MacClane was essential to finding his own unique groove as Buzz. “Angus and everyone at Pixar was so collaborative, and you kind of let them guide you.” Evans shared.
He added, “Eventually you feel comfortable enough to make your own tracks in the snow and find your own interpretation, while still using Tim Allen as the blueprint.”
Keke Palmer, who plays new space recruit Izzy Hawthorne in the film, teased that Evans’ performance will have fans of all ages excited.
“Wait until you guys hear how Chris Evans did Buzz, ” Palmer gushed. “A lot of people probably feel like, ‘Oh my gosh, how can you do Buzz again? How can you replace Tim?’ There’s no replacing, but there is some evolution, and Chris nailed it. I can’t wait for the kids to get into it, and the parents.”
After it was first announced Evans would take on the titular role back in 2020, Lightyear got its first teaser trailer in October of last year. Evans previously released a statement about his casting, sharing just how much joining the Pixar ranks means to him.
“The phrase ‘a dream come true’ gets thrown around a lot, but I’ve never meant it more in my life,” he said. “Anyone who knows me knows that my love for animated films runs deep. 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.”
Lightyear premieres in theaters on June 17.
27 Comments
The only “shameless Tim Allen impression” I can think of is that grunting schtick he did on Home Improvement. And I’ve seen Toy Story. The first one anyway.
I would say that anyone attempting a Tim Allen imitation clearly has no shame.
Really dumb story:
My brother liked Home Improvement so when it was his turn to pick, we watched that. I didn’t care for it and one time as the opening theme was ending I said “Ah, he’s gay!” just before he did the grunt. Well, my brother thought it was so funny I was from then on required to say it just before the grunt. I must be a very patient sibling for going along with it. My brother also liked to rewind a funny line from a movie like DOZENS of times after it wasn’t funny anymore. Drove me crazy and I don’t know how he didn’t break the VCR.
Want to know more about my youth?
Cool story about who you and your bro are homophobic cunts.
Your brother sounds like he’s on the spectrum… of annoying siblings.
That he is.
And yet somehow he grew up to be the “normal one”. Never been arrested. Never been in therapy.
Clearly Home Improvement and the comedy stylings of Tim Allen were his therapy!!! 🙂
Must’ve worked it all out early!
Seriously, the younger ones have it much easier.
Or snitching on all of your coke dealing buddies.
Oh there’s a LOT that is shameless about this whole enterprise…
It still doesn’t make sense to me why Allen isn’t the voice. It’s an animated movie.
It’s because Allen is the voice of the toy – Evans is the voice of the person the toy is based off of. What toy is exactly the same as the real life thing it’s modeled after? …not to mention it’s a great excuse to refresh a character that’s already starred in 4 movies.
Okay, except Hanks is the voice of both the toy and the “person” the toy is based off of. Woody is a puppet in a TV show, but it’s Hanks voicing him.Your second reason seems more fitting, I think. And CineCraft hit on it pretty well too.
I had no idea Hanks was in it. The does indeed shoot that theory, eh? Now I’m curious… I wonder if they couldn’t reach a salary agreement with Allen?
Allen is something of persona non grata these days, and since Disney is Ultra-Woke* these days, it makes sense for them to look elsewhere for talent. If he had a problem with it, he’s certainly hasn’t been crying about it nearly as much as when his TV show was cancelled after like six seasons. And since someone caved and gave in to his whinging then, I’m sort of glad he wasn’t given this role.
I was referring to Toy Story 2 when we see Woody the puppet on the TV show. Apologies for being unclear.
Yeah, that’s the “reason” we are given, except we hear Tim Allen voice the actor in the Toy Commercials, just like Woody was as well; it’s a soundbox with recorded lines from the show…
In other words, Pixar decided to go in different directions for reasons they most likely do not wish to express publicly and came up with this idea as an excuse to tell the general public.
1. Tim Allen is a major asshole.2. He demands more and more money as time goes on. That’s why Last Man Standing was canceled the first time, he demanded a bigger salary every season until the budget no longer made sense.They could throw obscene money at a guy who’s difficult to work with, or they could recast. I think they made the right choice.
Actually, ABC had publicly said why Last Man Standing was canceled the first time. They didn’t own the rights to the series so they had to spend additional fees for every episode aired. https://www.looper.com/65478/real-reason-last-man-standing-canceled/
Really? I guess I remembered it wrong.
He’s still an asshole, though.
Oh don’t get me wrong many accused him of doing this thus you probably did see articles claiming this, not on either of us.
Except none of that actually happened.
According to Disney, it’s because they want to establish that Toy-Buzz and the Lightyear-Buzz are different characters with different personalities. They shared the same voice before, but that was retconned. Not the first time Disney-Pixar changed things as the series goes on.
But who will voice the real life toy version of Buzz, and what happens when my real life toy version of Buzz meets my real life toy version of Toy Story Buzz?
Without Tim Allen, I just don’t want to watch it. I know, I know I’ve heard the “reasons” why he wasn’t cast, but honestly it’s all very silly to me. I like Chris Evans but, Tim Allen is a part my childhood, the man is more then just another actor for lot of us, he’s a staple of this series for a reason 🙂
That’s too bad because Tim Allen’s an asshole.