Chris Evans is announced as voice of Buzz Lightyear in Pixar’s animated origin story out in 2022

Chris Evans has been unveiled as the voice of Buzz Lightyear in a Pixar origin story movie about the character out in 2022.

The role was originated by Tim Allen in the 1995 computer animated movie Toy Story, which was the first film ever released by Pixar.

In ‘first look’ image Pixar tweeted Thursday, a CGI Buzz can be seen looking steely and determined as he pilots a spaceship.

‘Here’s a first look of the young test pilot that became the Space Ranger we all know him to be today. Lightyear launches into theaters June 17, 2022,’ Pixar tweeted.

The company also included a title shot that shows the audience’s POV hurtling through space so fast that the stars whiz by.

Eventually the word: ‘LIGHTYEAR’ appears across the screen in metallic lettering perfectly attuned to the sci-fi feel.

Tim’s version of Buzz Lightyear is not the astronaut himself, but a toy of the character, whereas Chris is playing the actual man.

Chris himself tweeted as much: ‘And just to be clear, this isn’t Buzz Lightyear the toy. This is the origin story of the human Buzz Lightyear that the toy is based on.’ 

Prior to his clarification the Knives Out heartthrob quote-tweeted Pixar’s original title shot post and wrote: ‘I don’t even have the words.’

The Hollywood blond is no stranger to Disney franchises as he rose to global fame as Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

He made his final appearance as the character in last year’s film Avengers Endgame which became the highest grossing movie of all time.’

After deciding to leave the franchise he explained his decision to the New York Times in 2018: ‘You want to get off the train before they push you off.’

Last year he appeared on Variety’s Actors On Actors and said ‘never say never’ to the prospect of returning to the franchise.

However during that interview he also told his fellow Marvel bombshell Scarlett Johansson: ‘It’s not a hard no, but it’s not an eager yes either.’

Toy Story starred Tim amid a top-flight cast that included Tom Hanks, Wallace Shawn and the legendary comedian Don Rickles.

The movie was a smash hit and propelled Pixar to become one of the world’s premiere makers of animated movies.

Two sequels followed, one in 1999 and another in 2010, with Tim reappearing in both of them to play the beloved Buzz Lightyear.