\n<\/aside>\nTim Allen has finally broken his silence on his absence from the new \u201cToy Story\u201d film \u201cLightyear.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 69-year-old portrayed the animated toy astronaut Buzz Lightyear in the Disney franchise from 1995 until 2019. But Chris Evans is voicing the character in 2022’s \u201cLightyear\u201d \u2014 and Allen recently discussed why he was not involved in the new project.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a whole new team that really had nothing to do with the first movies,\u201d Allen told \u201cExtra\u201d on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe short answer is I’ve stayed out of this ’cause it has nothing to do [with his character],\u201d the \u201cHome Improvement\u201d alum added.<\/p>\n
Allen recalled thinking that the flick would be \u201clive action\u201d with \u201creal humans\u201d and \u201cnot an animated thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, Allen noted: \u201cThere’s really no ‘Toy Story’ Buzz without Woody.\u201d Woody is Buzz’s best pal and was played by Tom Hanks in the \u201cToy Story\u201d films.<\/p>\n
Allen stated that even though the new movie has \u201ca wonderful story, it just doesn’t seem to have any connection to the toy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish there was a better connection,\u201d the \u201cSanta Clause\u201d star declared.<\/p>\n\u201cCaptain America\u201d star Chris Evans (right) portrays the \u201cToy Story\u201d character of Buzz Lightyear in the 2022 movie prequel. Tim Allen (inset) originated the role in previous films.<\/figcaption>Dave Benett\/WireImage<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cThe short answer is I’ve stayed out of this ’cause it has nothing to do [with my character],\u201d the \u201cSanta Clause\u201d star said.<\/figcaption>Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cLightyear\u201d is posed as a spinoff-prequel to \u201cToy Story,\u201d showing Buzz in his early days when he put on the iconic purple and green spacesuit.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/aside>\nBuzz about the lack of Allen’s participation in the movie has caused a stir, with his friend Patricia Heaton recently calling out Disney for replacing Allen with Evans, 41.<\/p>\n
The “Everybody Loves Raymond” star wrote on Twitter<\/a> earlier this month: \u201cSaw 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?\u201d<\/p>\nHowever, \u201cCaptain America\u201d star Evans gushed over Allen’s past portrayals of Buzz during a chat with \u201cGood Morning America\u201d on June 17.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy younger version would have just been pinching himself,\u201d Evans said of taking over the role. <\/p>\nChris Evans voiced the title character in 2022’s \u201cLightyear\u201d \u2014 an origin story of Buzz.<\/figcaption>\u00a9Walt Disney Co.\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cLook, Tim Allen is Buzz Lightyear,\u201d the \u201cKnives Out\u201d actor went on. \u201cWhat 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d Evans continued. \u201cWhat Tim Allen did was pretty untouchable.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n