Despite receiving positive reviews, Disney-Pixar’s “Lightyear” movie flopped at the box office, making $120 million before hitting Disney’s streaming service, Disney+.
The film stars Chris Evans as Buzz Lightyear, which shocked many Disney fans as Tim Allen has been the voice of the character in the “Toy Story” franchise for the last two decades. However, that is not why Pixar executive Pete Docter thinks the movie failed at the box office.
Pete Docter Reveals ‘What Went Wrong’ With ‘Lightyear’
“Lightyear” stars Chris Evans, Uzo Aduba, James Brolin, Keke Palmer, Taika Waititi, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and others as it tells the origin story of Buzz Lightyear, which executive producer Pete Docter feels was not what fans were expecting, telling The Wrap there was a “disconnect between what people wanted/expected.”
“I think probably what we’ve ended on in terms of what went wrong is that we asked too much of the audience,” Docter explained before he added, “When they hear Buzz, they’re like, great, where’s Mr. Potato Head and Woody and Rex? And then we drop them into this science fiction film that they’re like, What?”
“Even if they read [about the movie] in press, it was just a little too distant, both in concept, and I think in the way that characters were drawn, that they were portrayed. It was much more of a science fiction,” Docter continued to explain.
“Toy Story 5” In The Works – With Tim Allen Returning
Although Tim Allen did not provide the voice of Buzz Lightyear in the Pixar film, “Lightyear”, the actor has confirmed he will be returning as the beloved space ranger for the upcoming “Toy Story 5” sequel, which was announced by Bob Iger earlier this month.
“Today I’m so pleased to announce that we have sequels in the works from our animation studios to some of our most popular franchises, ‘Toy Story’, ‘Frozen’ and ‘Zootopia’,” Iger said during the Q1 Earnings call on February 8, 2023.
Just moments after Disney CEO Bob Iger announced the “Toy Story” sequel, 69-year-old Tim Allen, who provided his voice to Buzz Lightyear in four different films, took to social media to confirm he would be returning for the fifth film.
“See ya soon Woody, you are a sad strange little man and you have my pity,” Allen Tweeted. “And off we go to a number 5! To infinity and beyond!,” he added.
See ya soon Woody, you are a sad strange little man and you have my pity. And off we go to a number 5! To infinity and beyond! pic.twitter.com/bwRzE487Vi
— Tim Allen (@ofctimallen) February 9, 2023
Tom Hanks (voice of Woody) and Tim Allen (voice of Buzz Lightyear) were spotted having a secret breakfast together just a few months ago, which had fans speculating a “Toy Story 5” was in the works — and it seems that they were correct!
Both Hanks and Allen provided their voices to the lovable Pixar characters — Woody and Buzz — in four different films for the “Toy Story” franchise. Don Rickles (Mr. Potato Head), Jim Varney (Slinky Dog), Wallace Shawn (Rex,), John Ratzenberger (Hamm), and Annie Potts (Bo Peep), also provided their voices for the franchise.
The first four films of the “Toy Story” franchise are currently streaming on Disney+. There is no release date for “Toy Story 5” at this time.
