‘I don’t understand’: Tom Hanks doesn’t get why Lightyear passed on Tim Allen
Tom Hanks has weighed in with his thoughts on Disney’s latest film Lightyear.
In the original Toy Story franchise, Hanks voiced the character of Woody while Tim Allen voiced Buzz. However, Pixar opted to replace Allen and bring in Chris Evans as the space ranger’s voice in this year’s Lightyear.
“I wanted to go head-to-head with Tim Allen, and then, they didn’t let Tim Allen do it,” Hanks told CinemaBlend. “I don’t understand that.”
Hanks reacted to the idea that it was unique to have his new film Elvis in theaters opposite Lightyear, saying, “How about that?”
Yet, for Hanks, the most pressing point is that people are returning to the theater following the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns.
WHY ‘CASTRATE’ BUZZ?: PATRICIAN HEATON SLAMS LIGHTYEAR OVER NOT CASTING TIM ALLEN
“Just as long as people come back to the motion picture theater,” he said. “I want to go back in the theater with a bunch of strangers and leave with something in common.”
Lightyear has seen disappointing box office numbers in the three weeks it’s been in theaters. It earned $51 million at the box office during its premiere weekend and sat behind Jurassic World: Dominion, which premiered the weekend before. The film’s total domestic profits have reached $106 million.
Allen recently said Lightyear does not compare to the original Toy Story movies.
(Eric Charbonneau/Invision/AP Images)
“This is a whole new team that really had nothing to do with the first movies,” Allen said of the newest Pixar production. “There’s really no Toy Story Buzz without Woody. It just doesn’t seem to have any connection to the toy.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Disney has faced additional criticism over its decision to include a same-sex kiss in Lightyear. Amid the backlash, the film has been banned in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
