'Lightyear' Director Angus MacLane Looked to NASA Astronaut Thomas Marshburn to Incorporate Space Science into Pixar Film
- Details
- Category: Interviews
- Created: Wednesday, 15 June 2022 23:08
- Published: Wednesday, 15 June 2022 23:19
- Written by Lupe R Haas
LIGHTYEAR director Angus MacLane and producer Galyn Susman looked to NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn to bring some authenticity to Pixar's first space adventure. The trio discussed with CineMovie why it was important to reflect real space travel in the Buzz Lightyear origin story.
Chris Evans voices Buzz Lightyear in Pixar's LIGHTYEAR, based on the beloved character from the TOY STORY franchise. The Space Ranger toy was inspired by one of Andy's favorite movies, a sci-fi action-adventure starring his heroic hero. The Space Rangers in LIGHTYEAR go "to infinity and beyond," something we have not achieved yet in real life but nevertheless, the filmmakers wanted to bring some reality to the animated space travel. NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn who just returned from space in May was a consultant on the Pixar movie and chatted with us about what he contributed to the movie. Official Movie Synopsis A sci-fi action adventure and the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy, “Lightyear” follows the legendary Space Ranger after he’s marooned on a hostile planet 4.2 million light-years from Earth alongside his commander and their crew. As Buzz tries to find a way back home through space and time, he’s joined by a group of ambitious recruits and his charming robot companion cat, Sox. Complicating matters and threatening the mission is the arrival of Zurg, an imposing presence with an army of ruthless robots and a mysterious agenda. The film features the voices of Chris Evans as accomplished Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear, Uzo Aduba as his commander and best friend Alisha Hawthorne and Peter Sohn as Sox. Keke Palmer, Taika Waititi and Dale Soules lend their voices to the Junior Zap Patrol’s Izzy Hawthorne, Mo Morrison and Darby Steel, respectively, and James Brolin can be heard as the enigmatic Zurg. The voice cast also includes Mary McDonald-Lewis as onboard computer I.V.A.N., Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Commander Burnside, Efren Ramirez as Airman Diaz, and Keira Hairston as Young Izzy. Directed by Angus MacLane (co-director “Finding Dory”), produced by Galyn Susman (“Toy Story That Time Forgot”) and featuring a score by award-winning composer Michael Giacchino (“The Batman,” “Up”), Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear” opens only in theaters on June 17, 2022. vvvv