We all had our favorite toys growing up that we’d go on the craziest adventures with. If Pixar’s beloved franchise Toy Story taught me anything, it’s that our toys had some without us too! Across four films, we got to learn about some of the toys’ dramatic backstories, one of which was space ranger Buzz Lightyear. Where did the inspiration for the Buzz Lightyear toy and his backstory come from though? With Pixar’s latest film Lightyear, we’ll discover the "real life" origin story of the man behind the iconic toy, the titular test pilot/astronaut Buzz Lightyear, voiced by Chris Evans (aka Captain America).
Directed by Angus MacLane, and written by MacLane and Jason Headly, Lightyear follows Buzz after he and his crew have been marooned on a dangerous alien planet. During a test flight to hopefully reach Earth and get help for the crew, Buzz is flung 62 years into the future. Not only is he now time-displaced and stranded on an unknown planet (again!), a terrifying robot named Emperor Zurg (James Brolin) is also attempting to take over the universe. Helping Buzz to save the universe, defeat Zurg, and return home, are a ragtag trio of soldiers; Izzy Hawthorne (Keke Palmer), Mo Morrison (Taika Waititi), and Darby Steel (Dale Soules).
Here's how you can watch Lightyear 2022 movie featuring everyone's favorite space ranger!
If you want a sneak peek at Lightyear before it comes, you’re in luck because Pixar has released a number of trailers you can check out. The first trailer, set to David Bowie’s song "Starman", teases the epic scope of Buzz’s time-traveling and space-exploring adventure, while the second has a bigger focus on highlighting Buzz’s new allies. Both trailers feature a number of neat Toy Story easter eggs that just make us even more excited about this movie. It looks like Pixar could have another massive hit on their hands, so the only real question is when we can see it!
Is Lightyear in Movie Theaters?
In the United States, Lightyear is currently scheduled to come out exclusively in theaters on Friday, June 17, 2022. The runtime is yet to be confirmed, but according to IMDB, it will be about 100 minutes.
Lightyear will be Pixar’s first theatrically released film since Onward in March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that unlike their previous three films, Soul, Luca, and Turning Red, which were released directly on Disney+, you’ll have to wait a while before Lightyear is released on the streaming service.
When and Where Will Lightyear Be Streaming Online?
Despite the exclusive theatrical debut, Disney+ is the home of all Pixar films, and this is where you’ll find Lightyear once it's available for streaming. There is currently no confirmed date for its Disney+ release. However, following the pattern of recent releases like Shang-Chi and Eternals, these films both appeared on Disney+ between two and three and a half months after their theatrical release dates. It is likely that Lightyear could fall into a similar timeframe.
Will Lightyear Arrive on DVD and Blu-Ray?
For those waiting for a DVD or Blu-ray release, Pixar’s most recent film Turning Red, which was first released in March 2022, became available on home media in May. Seeing this two-month timeframe, Lightyear could similarly be released on home media roughly in mid-to-late August.