Tim Allen has been the voice of the beloved Disney character Buzz Lightyear since the very first Toy Story premiered in 1995. However, in the latest installment of the Buzz Lightyear story, Allen wasn’t asked to be part of the movie.
Lightyear, which just premiered in theaters in June, dives into Buzz’s origin story. Buzz is voiced by current Hollywood heartthrob Chris Evans.
Tim Allen Isn’t the Voice of Buzz In This Latest Installment, And Now He’s Speaking Out
And while Allen has nothing against Evans, he admits in his latest interview with Extra that he was confused by how it all came to be. “This is a whole new team that really had nothing to do with the first movies,” Allen explained.
“I thought it was a live-action (movie at first),” Allen continued. But when he learned the movie would be animated, he was shocked to learn he wasn’t asked to be a part of it, considering he was Buzz for the last nearly 20 years.
“I’m a plot guy. If this was done in 1997, it would seem to be a big adventure story, and as I see it’s not a big adventure story,” Allen further explained. “It’s a wonderful story; it just doesn’t seem to have any connection to the toy.”
Allen also admitted that the new movie doesn’t really lend itself to future Buzz and his best friend, Woody. As Allen continued, he admitted he just wished the movie made a better connection to the Buzz we all know and love today.
“There’s really no ‘Toy Story’ Buzz without Woody,” he said, adding, “It has no relationship to Buzz. It’s just no connection. I wish there was a better connection to [the original] Buzz.”
And many of Allen’s Hollywood friends agree. Patricia Heaton, best known for her role in Everybody Loves Raymond, took to Twitter to share her disappointment that Allen wasn’t involved in this latest movie.
“Saw the trailer for Buzz Lightyear and all I can say is Disney/Pixar made a HUGE mistake in not casting my pal Tim Allen in the role that he originated, the role that he owns. Tim IS Buzz! Why would they completely castrate this iconic, beloved character?”
And Woody, himself, Tom Hanks, also spoke out about the decision to recast the voice of Buzz. “How about that,” Hanks said. “I actually wanted to go head-to-head with Tim Allen and then they didn’t let Tim Allen do it. I don’t understand that.”
Hanks also has a movie that premiered the same week, Elvis. Hanks was referring to see who would make the most in the box office.
What do you think of the decision to recast Buzz? Have you seen Lightyear yet?
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