Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Don't miss these
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Star Wars Movies Lord and Miller seemingly confirm they were signed on for more than one Han Solo Star Wars movie
Mario riding Yoshi through space with Luigi and Peach flying along beside him
Animated Movies The Super Mario Galaxy Movie review: "Never quite reaches Galaxy's gravity-defying game heights"
Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides in Dune 3
Movies Upcoming movies: The most exciting new movies coming in 2026 and beyond
Rey in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars Movies Every new Star Wars movie and TV show currently in the works
Princess Peach and Mario in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Animated Movies The Super Mario Galaxy Movie ending explained: is there a post-credits scene and does it set up a Smash Bros. movie?
Nicholas Galitzine as He-man in Masters of the Universe
Fantasy Movies The new Masters of the Universe trailer is here, and its colorful, epic-looking action is warming my millennial heart
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Animated Movies Super Mario Galaxy Movie release date, cast, plot, and everything else you need to know about The Super Mario Bros. sequel
Mario riding Yoshi through space with Luigi and Peach flying along beside him
Animated Movies When is The Super Mario Galaxy Movie on streaming? Speculation on the Peacock release date
Fox McCloud in the The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Animated Movies The Super Mario Galaxy Movie post-credits scenes: how many are there and what does it mean for a threequel?
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Animated Movies Mario fans are trying to work out who the mysterious character is in the new Super Mario Galaxy teaser: "Is that Fox?"
Catherine Laga'aia in the live-action Moana movie
Animated Movies New Disney movies 2026 and beyond
Link in The Legend of Zelda movie
Live Action Movies The Legend of Zelda movie: Everything we know so far about the live-action movie
Princess Peach and Toad in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Animated Movies The Super Mario Galaxy Movie might actually be making a years-long fan theory about Rosalina and Princess Peach canon
Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery in Wonder Man.
Marvel Movies When does Wonder Man take place on the Marvel timeline?
Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace in Project Hail Mary
Sci-Fi Movies Project Hail Mary directors say Steven Spielberg pitched that Close Encounters Easter egg
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies
  3. Animation Movies

The Buzz Lightyear movie's director explains how it connects to the Toy Story universe

News
By Jack Shepherd published 28 October 2021

And the explanation is more confusing than the multiverse...

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Buzz in Lightyear
(Image credit: Pixar/Disney)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Buzz Lightyear’s standalone movie has a new trailer – and everyone's confused. How, exactly, does Lightyear connect to the Toy Story universe? Presumably, this is the origins story of the space ranger that the toy is based on, right? But then, how come the Earth in Toy Story is not very technologically advanced, yet the one in the Lightyear movie has Buzz slingshotting around the sun? 

Director Angus MacLane has an answer. Kinda. It's complicated.

"'Set in the world of Toy Story' is kind of weird," he told Entertainment Weekly. "Another way to get at it, it's a straightforward sci-fi action film about the Buzz Lightyear character. In the Toy Story universe, it would be like a movie that maybe Andy would have seen, that would have made him want a Buzz Lightyear figure."

You may like
  • Buzz and Woody looking shocked as they confront the Lilypad device Buzz, Woody, Jesse and the gang are in trouble as big tech invades the toy room in Toy Story 5
  • Buzz Lightyear and Woody in Toy Story 5 Ahead of Toy Story 5, Hoppers director says Pixar knows "originals have to exist" and "you can't keep making sequels"
  • Mabel and King George in Pixar's Hoppers Hoppers director Daniel Chong says his "chaotic, unhinged" Pixar movie took inspiration from Avatar and Studio Ghibli

"The movie doesn't end and then you see Andy eating popcorn," the filmmaker added. "This is its own thing… This is standalone. It's the Buzz Lightyear movie. It's that character but as the space ranger, not as the toy."

Essentially, it sounds like Lightyear could be seen as a movie within the Toy Story universe that the Buzz Lightyear action figure is based on. Confusingly, though, Chris Evans – who voices this incarnation of Buzz, taking over from Tim Allen – previously said that the Buzz in Lightyear is the origins story of the human Buzz.

"Just to be clear, this isn’t Buzz Lightyear the toy," he tweeted. "This is the origin story of the human Buzz Lightyear that the toy is based on."

Now that the trailer's out, the internet has decided: this isn't very clear, Chris! But, let's do our best: Lightyear is a fictional movie in the Toy Story universe that tells the story of an imagined space ranger who's potentially partly based on a real in-universe man called Buzz. Maybe? We need another tweet from Evans to clear this one all up – or maybe just confuse things further.

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Whatever the case, we'll find out more when Lightyear rockets into cinemas on June 17, 2022. In the meantime, check out our guide to new Disney movies.

Jack Shepherd
Jack Shepherd
Social Links Navigation
Freelance Journalist

Jack Shepherd is the former Senior Entertainment Editor of GamesRadar. Jack used to work at The Independent as a general culture writer before specializing in TV and film for the likes of GR+, Total Film, SFX, and others. You can now find Jack working as a freelance journalist and editor.

Read more
Buzz and Woody looking shocked as they confront the Lilypad device
Animated Movies Buzz, Woody, Jesse and the gang are in trouble as big tech invades the toy room in Toy Story 5
 
 
Buzz Lightyear and Woody in Toy Story 5
Animated Movies Ahead of Toy Story 5, Hoppers director says Pixar knows "originals have to exist" and "you can't keep making sequels"
 
 
Mabel and King George in Pixar's Hoppers
Animated Movies Hoppers director Daniel Chong says his "chaotic, unhinged" Pixar movie took inspiration from Avatar and Studio Ghibli
 
 
Jessie and Bullseye in Toy Story 5
Animated Movies Toy Story 5 actors says to "bring tissues" when going to see the new animated sequel, and now we're scared
 
 
Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace in Project Hail Mary
Sci-Fi Movies Lord and Miller explain how their work on the Spider-Verse movies inspired their new sci-fi film Project Hail Mary
 
 
Shawn Levy
Star Wars Movies Deadpool and Wolverine director Shawn Levy compares his Star Wars movie to Stranger Things
 
 
Latest in Animation Movies
Yoshi (Donald Glover), Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) posing in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Animated Movies The Super Mario Galaxy Movie's disappointing Rotten Tomatoes score fails to beat the original film
 
 
Fox McCloud in the The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Animated Movies Miyamoto says not to expect a Smash Bros-style crossover in future Mario movies
 
 
Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) and Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) in Nintendo and Illumination’s The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Animated Movies The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is on track to beat Project Hail Mary for the biggest opening weekend of 2026 so far
 
 
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Animated Movies The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Easter eggs: All the Nintendo references and cameos you may have missed
 
 
The Super Mario Bros. Show
Animated Movies AI "upgraded" versions of the 1989 Super Mario Bros. cartoon are airing now on MeTV, and the results aren't pretty
 
 
Fox McCloud in the The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Animated Movies The Super Mario Galaxy Movie post-credits scenes: how many are there and what does it mean for a threequel?
 
 
Latest in News
Pikmin 4
Super Mario Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto is "on a mission" to include Pikmin in every Nintendo product
 
 
Diego Luna in Andor season 2
Star Wars TV Shows Diego Luna thinks Andor and Han Solo would be friends, but that there's one droid Cassian wouldn't get on with
 
 
Super Mario Galaxy Movie Yoshi Popcorn Bucket collectable on a yellow background with 'in stock' badge
Toys & Collectibles The Super Mario Galaxy Movie popcorn bucket is already going for nearly $100 at eBay
 
 
Austin Abrams as James in Weapons
Horror Movies Resident Evil director Zach Cregger expects fans to "crucify" him if his movie deviates from game lore
 
 
Diana's eyes glow with digital energy in Pragmata
Action Games Capcom finally confirms the theory that Pragmata is a stealth Mega Man game, just don't look at today's date
 
 
Yoshi (Donald Glover), Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) posing in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Animated Movies The Super Mario Galaxy Movie's disappointing Rotten Tomatoes score fails to beat the original film
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Super Mario Galaxy Movie Yoshi Popcorn Bucket collectable on a yellow background with 'in stock' badge
    1
    The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Yoshi popcorn bucket is already going for nearly $100 at eBay, but Cinemark just dropped new pre-orders
  2. 2
    Resident Evil director Zach Cregger says he expects fans to "crucify" him if his movie deviates from game lore
  3. 3
    How to get the Canto in Arc Raiders
  4. 4
    Capcom finally confirms the theory that Pragmata is a stealth Mega Man game, just don't look at today's date
  5. 5
    Dave Filoni explains why Darth Sidious only appears in a handful of The Clone Wars episodes, and we might have his cloak to blame

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...