Due to his pre-presentation at the Annecy Festival on June 17, we met with Buzz Lightyear director Angus McLain as well as film producer Galin Susman.
How did you come up with the idea for the Buzz Lightyear movie, which focuses not on a character familiar to toy history fans, but on the protagonist of the movie that inspired it?
Angus McClain (Director of Buzz Lightyear): I really wanted to make a fun sci-fi movie around Buzz Lightyear. I’m a big fan of action movies and live thrillers, but I was wondering what would be the Pixar equivalent for these movies that I love so much? The only character in the studio that deals directly with science fiction is obviously Buzz Lightyear! I always wanted to know more about the character after I joined Pixar in 1997 and so we came up with the idea to make a futuristic adventure film with Buzz Lightyear.
How does the base story compare to the first toy history toy in this movie, even though it’s not the same character?
Galin Susman (film producer): In the first toy story, Base is a secondary character, he is a kind of comic support for Wood, and the story in the film does not tell the story of Base, though he has his own conspiracy to see it. He realizes that he is not a real space ranger, but a mere toy, a discovery that allows him to take on who he really is and appreciate the values of community life.
So for this film we used elements from the history of toys, namely, disconnecting the base from reality. His travels in time affect his relationship with the world around him, so much so that he can no longer even recognize the food he eats. There he will start an adventure, during which he will create a kind of family with his companions. However, if we were to tell this story, the movie would be too boring to watch. We did not want to tell a story that just went from point A to point B.
Therefore, we had to find the depth and interest of the character and this was our starting point to define what are his shortcomings as a man and his idea of a hero who can save the world by himself will shift. He will become a better team leader but also a better person.
Why isn’t the actor playing Buzz (in the original version as well as in the French version) in this film the same as in Toy Story?
Angus MacLane: Our Buzz has a different personality and the film as a whole has a different tone than the toy story. This is not a toy story 5. The game base is next to Wood and he is the comic connection of the movie, while our base is the protagonist of the movie, he has flaws and faces personal problems. Identity, his individualistic heroism and lack of connection to the reality of his own world.
So he’s a slightly more serious action hero, but he still retains some comedic potential. In the original version, Chris Evans was the ideal choice, as he is an actor who can perfectly be funny, but is also regular in the roles of an action hero (According to the French version, this is François Civil who votes for Buzz, the editor’s note). It also allowed us to avoid public opinion that our Buzz is a toy, which would affect the sense of danger that threatens the character throughout the film.
Buzz Lightyear shows the first lesbian kiss ever to appear on screen in Pixar production. Was it necessary for you to keep this scene cut from the previous version in the last cut of the movie?
Angus McLain: Yes, it was really important, this is a scene that we really wanted to show and we are glad that it will appear in the final version of the film. Wonderful, but it was also important to us because we wanted Alicia to be the base David and there was no romantic uncertainty between them. So, also on a practical level, this scene was really important for the narration of the film.
One of the movie’s post-credit scenes is hoping for Buzz Lightyear 2. Is this a real opportunity?
Angus McLain: It is always important to leave the door open at the end of the film. Is he alive, is he dead? It adds a real surprise effect, which is really fun. ᲕYou will see. If people really want to continue, then maybe we should prepare.
The interview was conducted as part of the 2022 Annecy Festival. The movie Buzz Lightyear, produced by Pixar animation studio, can be seen in cinemas on Wednesday, June 22nd.
Source: allocine
Emily Jhon is a product and service reviewer at Gossipify, known for her honest evaluations and thorough analysis. With a background in marketing and consumer research, she offers valuable insights to readers. She has been writing for Gossipify for several years and has a degree in Marketing and Consumer Research from the University of Oxford.
