Pixar Goes to Infinity and Beyond in the New Trailer for 'Toy Story' Spinoff 'Lightyear'

For every popular film franchise, there must be an origin story — or that's how it frequently feels. The latest beloved series to step back into its past to provide an insight into how one of its characters became who they are: Pixar's adored Toy Story saga, which is now diving into Buzz Lightyear's history (and has a trailer to prove it).

First, to answer the obvious question, this isn't a film about how the talking toy was manufactured. If anyone could make that delight, it'd be Pixar, though. Instead, Lightyear focuses on the flesh-and-blood Buzz in Toy Story's world, aka the space ranger who inspired the plaything that's been such a pivotal part of four films so far. So if you've ever wondered why there even was a Buzz figurine, now you'll find out.

"My Lightyear pitch was, 'what was the movie that Andy saw that made him want a Buzz Lightyear toy?' I wanted to see that movie," explains filmmaker Angus MacLane, who previously co-directed Finding Dory, and also worked as an animator on both Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3.

To tell that tale, MacLane's film follows Buzz on an intergalactic adventure — a trip that, as the just-dropped trailer for Lightyear shows, he's mighty excited about.

Chris Evans swaps from wearing Captain America's spandex to voicing the spacesuit-wearing Buzz, and he's joined by a cast that includes Keke Palmer (Hustlers), Dale Soules (Orange is the New Black) and Taika Waititi (Free Guy) as new space ranger recruits.

The film hits cinemas in June — reaching the big screen, unlike Pixar's past two releases Soul and Luca, as well as its soon-to-stream Turning Red — but the most adorable part of the Lightyear trailer right now belongs to Buzz's new robot cat companion Sox. Yes, you can already see how many toys that mechanical feline is certain to inspire.

Check out the Lightyear trailer below:

Lightyear will release in cinemas Down Under on June 16, 2022.

Top image: © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.