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Actress Patricia Heaton did not take kindly to Disney and Pixar replacing Tim Allen–who originally voiced the character of the Buzz Lightyear toy from the Toy Story films–with Marvel star Chris Evans for the new Lightyear movie.
Lightyear, which opens on Friday, is an origin story for the eponymous action hero that inspired the beloved, anthropomorphic action figure in the popular Toy Story franchise.
They are completely different characters according to the franchises creators.
Heaton fiercely defended Allen and accused Disney and Pixar of "castrating" the iconic role with their casting decision.
Heaton in a viral Twitter thread wrote:
"Saw the trailer for Buzz Lightyear and all I can say is Disney/Pixar made a HUGE mistake in not casting my pal Tim Allen in the role that he originated, the role that he owns."
To be clear, Allen never played the character in the new film. Allen played a toy based on the man Chris Evans is now voicing.
But the Everybody Loves Raymond star argued:
“Tim IS Buzz! Why would they completely castrate this iconic, beloved character?”
\u201cSaw the trailer for Buzz Lightyear and all I can say is Disney/Pixar made a HUGE mistake in not casting my pal @ofctimallen Tim Allen in the role that he originated, the role that he owns. Tim IS Buzz! Why would they completely castrate this iconic, beloved character?\u201d— Patricia Heaton (@Patricia Heaton) 1655221732
Many people disagreed with Heaton's rant.
They reminded her the character from Toy Story is not in Lightyear.
\u201c@PatriciaHeaton @ofctimallen The toy from 'Toy Story' is the toy from a movie. This is that movie. I have a Tony Stark toy that isn't voiced by Robert Downey Jr. I explained this to some 4 year olds today and they understood it, why can't you?\n\nhttps://t.co/ZwhVFNRSW6\u201d— Patricia Heaton (@Patricia Heaton) 1655221732
\u201c@PatriciaHeaton @ofctimallen Do people not pay attention? Tim Allen's Buzz is the toy based off of a person. Chris Evan's Buzz is the the real person that inspired the toy. The movie is about Buzz Lightyear the Person, not Andy's toy.\u201d— Patricia Heaton (@Patricia Heaton) 1655221732
\u201c@PatriciaHeaton @ofctimallen 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.\u201d— Patricia Heaton (@Patricia Heaton) 1655221732
Other fans had no objection to the casting of Captain America in the role.
They ribbed Heaton for her distressing word choice.
\u201c@PatriciaHeaton @ofctimallen maybe because Allen is almost 70 and they werent trying to make a movie about Buzz's years in a retirement home?\n\nalso, they replaced with the guy who played CAPTAIN AMERICA how can you honestly believe this is a downgrade? look at this guy and tell me how he's "castrated"\u201d— Patricia Heaton (@Patricia Heaton) 1655221732
\u201c@PatriciaHeaton @ofctimallen Hey Patricia! Totally agree, the castration scene in the movie felt unnecessary and gross in light of the casting choice. Seeing Buzz's genitals was arousing, but knowing they weren't the penis and balls of the Tool Man himself really steamed me! It was incredibly hard to climax.\u201d— Patricia Heaton (@Patricia Heaton) 1655221732
\u201c@cmclymer @PatriciaHeaton @ofctimallen Nobody tell her Michael Keaton isn\u2019t Batman anymore either, no telling who she\u2019ll sterilize next.\u201d— Patricia Heaton (@Patricia Heaton) 1655221732
\u201c@PatriciaHeaton @ofctimallen Why would you use the word 'castrate' for a toy character? That's weird.\u201d— Patricia Heaton (@Patricia Heaton) 1655221732
\u201c@PatriciaHeaton @ofctimallen the buzz lightyear toy canonically did not have genitalia so he could not have been castrated\u201d— Patricia Heaton (@Patricia Heaton) 1655221732
\u201c@PatriciaHeaton @ofctimallen Castrate? Ma\u2019am,\u201d— Patricia Heaton (@Patricia Heaton) 1655221732
\u201c@deannagmcdonald @PatriciaHeaton @ofctimallen To vasectomy and beyond\u201d— Patricia Heaton (@Patricia Heaton) 1655221732
\u201c@PatriciaHeaton @ofctimallen For clarity, this is what a naked male action figures look like. What was there to castrate?\u201d— Patricia Heaton (@Patricia Heaton) 1655221732
People assured her Allen's career with Disney won't be affected as he recently wrapped production with the Disney+ show The Clauses.
The upcoming Christmas comedy miniseries is based on The Santa Clause films in which Allen starred and will be reprising his role.
\u201c@PatriciaHeaton @ofctimallen He literally just finished filming a series for DISNEY+ and you\u2019re going to try and stir some crap about his relationship with Disney? Maybe you don\u2019t know your \u201cfriend\u201d so well. Go check his twitter feed. One of his latest posts is a pic from the set of the series. \ud83d\ude06\u201d— Patricia Heaton (@Patricia Heaton) 1655221732
\u201c@PatriciaHeaton @ofctimallen Lightyear isn't about the Buzz Lightyear toy featured in the Toy Story films. Instead, it focuses on the hero who inspired the toy.\n\nAlso, Tim Allen has a new series he's working with Disney on.\n\nhttps://t.co/zhlVR6uKuF\n\nCan we lower the hate meter now?\u201d— Patricia Heaton (@Patricia Heaton) 1655221732
\u201c@PatriciaHeaton @ofctimallen Ah yes, Disney is punishing Allen by giving him his own series that just finished filming 2 weeks ago\n\nThey're NOT playing same character (man vs toy), and even if they were, how is adding A-list, superhero, movie star, 30 years Allen's junior castrating?\n\nhttps://t.co/EkzIC97GH6\u201d— Patricia Heaton (@Patricia Heaton) 1655221732
Other Twitter users quickly pointed out the wannabe astronaut character had been voiced by other notable actors–like Seinfeld's Patrick Warburton–in Toy Story projects since the films.
\u201c@KarenMarney3 @PatriciaHeaton @ofctimallen you are aware that Patrick Warburton voiced this version of buzz in the early 2000s cartoon right?\u201d— Patricia Heaton (@Patricia Heaton) 1655221732
\u201c@PatriciaHeaton @ofctimallen Patrick Warburton voiced Buzz for 62 episodes UPN/ABC animated series, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command.\n\nAnd various non-Allen actors, most notably Pat Fraley, have provided voices for a myriad of Buzz Lightyear merchandise and video games.\u201d— Patricia Heaton (@Patricia Heaton) 1655221732
\u201c@PatriciaHeaton @ofctimallen You're only TWENTY-TWO years late with this complaint.\u201d— Patricia Heaton (@Patricia Heaton) 1655221732
During a press conference, Lightyear producer Galyn Susman set the record straight on why Allen wasn't returning to voice the character.
Susman explained:
“Tim Allen is Buzz Lightyear the toy. We weren’t making a Toy Story movie. We’re making Buzz Lightyear’s movie."
"And so first and foremost, we just needed a different person playing that Lightyear, separate from the toy.”
As for the specific casting of Evans, Director Angus MacLane added Lightyear is “a little more well-rounded."
"Technically he’s a bit smarter because he’s not comic relief. He has to be funny, but not too goofy. And that’s why we went with Chris," he said.
\u201c@PatriciaHeaton @ofctimallen Calm down Tim will always be toy Buzz, this is a totally different story and thats why an alternate actor was needed. Havent even heard Tim Allen conplain bout it \ud83e\udd37\ud83c\udffb\u200d\u2642\ufe0f.\u201d— Patricia Heaton (@Patricia Heaton) 1655221732
MacLane also further explained to Vanity Fair:
"Chris Evans has the gravitas and that movie-star quality that our character needed to separate him and the movie from Tim’s version of the toy in ‘Toy Story.'”
Evans acknowledged the elephant in the room when he was approached by Disney for the ambitious new project.
He recalled:
“My team could barely contain their excitement when they told me that Pixar had a pitch for me."
"All they said was ‘Buzz Lightyear.’ I didn’t know what that meant, since Tim Allen is Buzz Lightyear, and no one could ever touch his performance.”
In preparation for the role of Buzz, Evans mentioned using his predecessor as a "guideline."
“[Allen] did such a good job, and I’d be a fool not to acknowledge the work he did. But I couldn’t just do a shameless impression," noted Evans.
"I had to somehow create my own understanding of the character, and try to make some fresh tracks in the snow while paying homage to the great work that he did.”
Heaton eventually acknowledged the discrepancy between the two characters but remained obstinate in her position.
“OK, so the current Buzz Lightyear movie is an origin story," she acquiesced in a follow-up tweet.
She added:
"But the reason the character became so beloved is because of what [Tim Allen] created. Why remove the one element that makes us want to see it?”
Toy Story fans beg to differ, as Lightyear generated positive buzz after seeing Evans flawlessly voice the spaceman in the trailer.
Lightyear–which also features the voices of Keke Palmer, Taika Waititi, James Brolin, Peter Sohn, and Uzo Aduba–lands in theaters this Friday.