Pixar’s massive global success all started with the first “Toy Story,” making it one of the most beloved franchises in the past 30 years. The four “Toy Story” films premiered between 1995 and 2019, and now three years after “Toy Story 4,” audiences have the opportunity to finally fall in love with the real Buzz Lightyear — just like Andy did in 1995. The franchise’s latest film “Lightyear,” isn’t a sequel, but a pseudo-prequel spinoff introducing new characters to the “Toy Story” universe.
In short, Andy fell in love with the toy Buzz Lightyear after seeing a new blockbuster movie. “Lightyear” is that movie.
Here’s your complete cast and character guide.
Buzz Lightyear (Chris Evans)
Buzz Lightyear’s familiar face leads this new film. Evans’ fictional Buzz finds himself navigating trouble just like Tim Allen’s Space Ranger Buzz. In the film, Buzz accidentally takes his crew on a detour to an unknown planet. After his attempt to bring his crew home, his hyper-speed test flight shoots Buzz and his robot companion Sox too far in time, and the two end up traveling over 62 years into the future.
Although Tim Allen has voiced Buzz in the “Toy Story” franchise, Chris Evans will voice Buzz in this new movie because it’s a very different Buzz. While Evans is most known for playing Marvel’s Captain America, he’s also starred in several other movies over the years including “Snowpiercer”, “Knives Out” and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.”
Izzy Hawthorne (Keke Palmer)
As one of the new faces introduced into the “Toy Story” universe, Keke Palmer’s Izzy Hawthorne is the granddaughter of Buzz’s best friend and commander, Alisha Hawthorne. Prior to Izzy and Buzz’s serendipitous meeting, Izzy leads a team fighting a robot army that works to prevent humans from leaving the planet.
A former child actress, Keke Palmer has appeared in countless films and TV shows since her breakout performance in “Akeelah and the Bee.” Palmer also starred in “True Jackson, VP,” “Hustlers,” and “Scream Queens.” Palmer’s presence will dominate the box officesthis summer, with fans looking forward to Jordan Peele’s sci-fi horror film, “Nope.”
Mo Morrison (Taika Waititi)
One of Izzy Hawthorne’s team of space rangers is Mo Morrison, fighting off Zurg and his robot army. As of now it’s unclear the real reasons Mo has been recruited by Izzy, although he says he joined the team of space rangers because he thought he was joining “a fun boot camp workout thing.”
A New Zealand native, Taika Waititi has become a global household name, after creating, directing, writing, and starring in various TV shows and films. Waititi garnered attention for his direction of “Thor: Ragnarok.” Following his MCU debut, Waititi wrote and directed the film “Jojo Rabbit” (for which he won a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar), and the filmmaker-actor has appeared in countless films, including “Free Guy” and “The Suicide Squad.”In addition to film, Waititi has appeared and created TV shows including, “The Mandalorian,” “Our Flag Means Death,” and “What We Do in the Shadows.”
Emperor Zurg (James Brolin)
While Emperor Zurg is not new to the “Toy Story” universe, “Lightyear” shows audiences exactly why Buzz and Zurg are archenemies. In “Lightyear,” Zurg and his robot army prevent Buzz, Izzy, and her team from leaving the planet.
James Brolin has a lengthy filmography that includes “Hotel,” “Life in Pieces,” “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” “Westworld,” “Traffic,” and “Skyjacked.”
Alisha Hawthorne (Uzo Aduba)
Buzz’s commander (and Izzy’s grandmother) Alisha Hawthorne seems to be his best friend and better half. After the trailer’s quick reveal of the two’s friendship, the friends are seen reciting Buzz’s iconic catchphrase, “To infinity…. and beyond.” Unfortunately, after Buzz travels 62 years into the future, Alisha most likely will not have a large part in Buzz’s journey home.
Three-time Emmy winner Uzo Abuda is most known for her role as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren on Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black.” Abuda has also starred in “Mrs. America,” “In Treatment,” as well as “Steven Universe.”
Sox (Peter Sohn)
Buzz’s personal companion, Sox, is a little robot cat, who regrettably accompanies Buzz on his hyper-speed test flight. Since Sox is a robot, he is able to provide stranded Buzz with sleep sounds and basic statistics, amongst unseen other features.
A Pixar veteran, Peter Sohn has animated, storyboarded, and directed since 2000. Sohn made his feature-length directorial debut in 2015 with “The Good Dinosaur.” Sohn has been a Pixar asset for years, providing his voice for many more films, including “Ratatouille,” “Monsters University,” and “Luca.”
Darby Steel (Dale Soules)
Alongside Mo Morrison, Darby Steel assists Izzy and the team of space rangers fighting off the robot army. Darby reveals to Buzz that she joined Izzy’s team to “take some time off” her mysterious sentence.
“Orange Is the New Black’s” Dale Soules is known for her role as Frieda Berlin in the Netflix series. Soules has also performed on stage in several Broadway productions, including “The Crucible,” “Hair,” and “Grey Gardens.”
And the rest…
The film also features “Napoleon Dynamite’s” Efren Ramirez as Diaz, “The Wire’s” Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Commander Burnside, “G.I. Joe’s” Mary McDonald-Lewis as I.V.A.N., and British astronaut Tim Peake as Tim from Mission Control.
“Lightyear” is now streaming on Disney+.
