Chris Evans talks playing Buzz Lightyear in 'Lightyear' and honoring fans
Chris Evans said playing Buzz Lightyear in Disney and Pixar's "Lightyear," which lands in theaters Friday, was both "a little intimidating" and "very humbling."
The Marvel Cinematic Universe alum, famous for his long run as Captain America, joined "Good Morning America" Thursday to discuss voicing the iconic space ranger on which the plastic "Toy Story" Buzz Lightyear, famously voiced by Tim Allen, is based.
Evans said he's been a massive fan of Disney and Pixar animation his whole life and didn't know if his younger self would be able to fathom taking on this role. "My younger version would have just been pinching himself," he told "GMA."
Though he didn't get to meet Allen before working on the Angus MacLane-directed "Lightyear," Evans said he "certainly studied" Allen's work in the four "Toy Story" films, released between 1995 and 2019.
"Look, Tim Allen is Buzz Lightyear," he explained. "What he did in those movies is so iconic and so loved, and I'd be a fool not to incorporate some of his choices into this role."
"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," he continued. "What Tim Allen did was pretty untouchable."
Evans knows a thing or two about playing beloved characters -- having played Captain America for nearly nine years -- and admitted "it can be a little overwhelming at times," but said he stays grounded by remembering one thing.
"I think it's important to remember that the fan base for both these characters has an idea of who the character should be, and you have to acknowledge that," he noted. "That has to go into the role."
"You can't work on these characters in a vacuum because that fan base if why these movies get made," he added. "So you have to honor that."
"Lightyear" is described as the definitive story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy, as the titular Space Ranger sets out on an intergalactic adventure alongside a group of ambitious recruits and his robot companion, Sox.
In addition to Evans, the film also features the voices of Keke Palmer, Dale Soules, Taika Waititi, Peter Sohn, Uzo Aduba, James Brolin, Mary McDonald-Lewis, Efren Ramirez and Isiah Whitlock Jr.
"Lightyear" lands in theaters June 17.
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