Entertainment
Tim Allen’s Home Improvement co-star Patricia Heaton slams Disney for ‘castrating’ Buzz Lightyear by using Chris Evans in new film-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro
Heaton said it was a ‘huge mistake’.
Patricia Heaton was batting for her former co-star Tim Allen (Picture: Rex/Disney)
Everybody Loves Raymond star Patricia Heaton has slammed parent company Disney and Pixar for recasting the role of Buzz Lightyear with Marvel star Chris Evans over original actor Tim Allen in new movie Lightyear, claiming it ‘castrates’ the character.
Heaton starred as Allen’s wife on popular 1990s sitcom Home Improvement, which launched comedian Allen’s acting career, leading to his casting as the voice for space ranger Buzz in 1995’s Toy Story and the subsequent three films in the franchise.
Taking to Twitter, Heaton shared her annoyance, writing: ‘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.’
She added: ‘Tim IS Buzz! Why would they completely castrate this iconic, beloved character?’
Chris Evans voices Buzz in the new spin-off film Lightyear, which technically focuses on a different version of Buzz than that which Allen voiced.
Evans stars as the ‘real’ intergalactic hero that inspired Allen’s toy action figure, so beloved by Andy in Toy Story.
Allen originated the role of Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story films (Picture: Chloe Rice/Disney Parks via Getty Images)
Lightyear follows the film figure of Buzz, rather than his toy (Picture: Pixar)
As director Angus MacLane put it to Entertainment Weekly, to distinguish between the two: ‘In the Toy Story universe, [Lightyear] would be like a movie that maybe Andy would have seen, that would have made him want a Buzz Lightyear figure.’
So, they are not the same character.
Although Heaton was subsequently corrected by fans online, she didn’t change her mind and still branded it a ‘stupid Hollywood decision’.
Heaton and Allen starred together on hit TV show Home Improvement in the 1990s (Picture: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
‘Ok so the current Buzz Lightyear movie is an origin story – 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?’ she wrote, adding her opinion in a hashtag.
Chris Evans voices this new, but different, version of Buzz (Picture: Getty)
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Chris Evans previously admitted to being ‘intimidated’ to step into Allen’s shoes as Buzz Lightyear, having initially done a ‘shameless impression’.
Speaking to Variety at the premiere, he added: ‘Eventually you feel comfortable enough to make your own tracks in the snow and find your own interpretation, while still using Tim Allen as the blueprint.’
Metro.co.uk has contacted reps for Tim Allen and Disney for comment.
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