Tom Hanks Speaks Up For Tim Allen Over 'Lightyear' Drama

The controversy is still ongoing about Chris Evans' casting in the 2022 animation, "Lightyear."

Fans and several prominent figures in the industry have aired their thoughts about Tim Allen's absence in the origin story, and the latest to do so is actor Tom Hanks.

Over the weekend, Hanks made an appearance on Cinemablend's ReelBlend podcast to discuss his current movie, "Elvis" which is currently showing in the cinemas.

In the biographical film directed by Baz Luhrmann, Hanks plays the role of Colonel Thomas Andrew Parker, Elvis Presley’s famous manager.

During the discussion, the veteran actor who has worked alongside Allen to voice Woody in several films explained that he wasn’t pleased with his friend's absence in “Lightyear.”

When asked how he felt to see “Elvis” playing alongside the Buzz Lightyear film, Hanks answered, “How about that? I wanted to go head-to-head with Tim Allen, and they didn’t let Tim Allen do it. I don’t understand that.”

Nevertheless, the “Forrest Gump” star doesn’t feel so badly about the casting choice. Instead, he is more than grateful that normalcy has returned to the film industry.

“Just as long as people come back to the motion picture theater,” he said. “I want to go back in the theater with a bunch of strangers and leave with something in common. That’s what I want to do and going to see a movie with them, I’m looking forward to that.”

Hanks joins the list of celebrities who have openly criticized Disney for overlooking Allen for the role of Buzz Lightyear.

As The Blast reported, last month “Everybody Loves Raymond” star Patricia Heaton made headlines for her thoughts on the matter.

Usually, Allen has been attached to the role of Buzz, having played it in all “Toy Story” films. However, the movie “Lightyear,” tells the origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy.

Many immediately assumed Allen would handle the role but were shocked to find Captain America.

Heaton who was highly displeased by the choice, ranted on Twitter, writing, “Saw the trailer for Buzz Lightyear and all I can say is Disney/Pixar made a HUGE mistake in not casting my pal @ofctimallen. 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?“

When fans tried to explain the live-action animation was only an origin story, Heaton maintained her stand, writing:

“Ok so the current Buzz Lightyear movie is an origin story 0- but the reason the character became so beloved is because of what Tim Allen created. Why remove the one element that makes us want to see it? #stupidHollywooddecisions.”

Allen, who is the OG Buzz Lightyear, finally broke his silence on the matter last week, during an interview with Extra.

When brought up to speed about fans’ anger towards Disney’s casting, Allen answered, “The short answer is I’ve stayed out of this ’cause it has nothing to do [with my character]. This is a whole new team that really had nothing to do with the first movies.”

The comedian threw a subtle shade at the spin-off, saying that he thought “real humans” would act in the “live-action.”

Concluding his thoughts, the “Home Improvement” star called the 2022 movie a “wonderful story,” before adding, “There’s really no Toy Story Buzz without Woody. It just doesn’t seem to have any connection to the toy. I wish there was a better connection.”

Evans himself has reacted to the backlash, handling the controversy graciously. As The Blast previously covered, the “Knives Out” star during an interview gave a shout-out to Allen.

“Look, Tim Allen is Buzz Lightyear,” he shared. “What he did in those movies is so iconic and loved, and I’d be a fool not to incorporate some of his choices into this role.”

He continued, “The character in this movie is the human version that the toy is based off of, so it makes sense to have a little bit of overlap, luckily for me. What Tim Allen did was pretty untouchable.”

Disney executives have also defended Evans’ casting choice via a statement that read, “In this film, Buzz is the action hero. He’s serious and ambitious and funny, but not in a goofy way that would undercut the drama. Chris Evans has the gravitas and that movie-star quality that our character needed to separate him and the movie from Tim’s version of the toy in ‘Toy Story.”