Let your imagination swim wild with Disney’s live-action adaptation of ‘The Little Mermaid,’ an enchanting retelling of the Oscar®-winning animated musical classic. Immerse yourself in a world teeming with wonder both over and under the sea, as it opens in Philippine cinemas nationwide on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Check the screening times and book your tickets in advance.
This enchanting tale focuses on Ariel, a beautiful, spirited mermaid who yearns for a taste of the world beyond the sea. The youngest and most free-spirited of King Triton’s daughters, Ariel is drawn to the human world. During a secret surface visit, she becomes smitten with the charming Prince Eric—and while mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. Ariel’s affection for the prince leads her to strike a treacherous deal with the wicked sea witch, Ursula. The agreement offers Ariel a taste of life on land, but it threatens both her life and her father’s reign.
The film boasts an impressive cast, featuring singer and actress Halle Bailey as Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Tony Award®-winner Daveed Diggs as the voice of Sebastian, Awkwafina as Scuttle, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina, Art Malik as Sir Grimsby, alongside Oscar® winner Javier Bardem as King Triton, and two-time Academy Award® nominee Melissa McCarthy as Ursula.
Guiding this magical journey is Oscar® nominee Rob Marshall. The movie’s production team includes two-time Emmy® winner Marc Platt, three-time Tony Award® winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, Emmy winner John DeLuca, and Rob Marshall, with Jeffrey Silver serving as executive producer. The enchanting songs feature music by multiple Academy Award® winner Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman, and new lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, with the score by Alan Menken and music supervised and produced by Mike Higham.
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In the heart of Hollywood, the evening sparkled with enchantment as the world premiere of Disney’s live-action “The Little Mermaid” splashed onto the scene at the iconic Dolby Theater. Cast, filmmakers, and celebrity guests gathered to toast the film’s upcoming launch. The highly anticipated reimagining of the studio’s Oscar®-winning animated musical classic, ‘The Little Mermaid,’ directed by the visionary Rob Marshall, is set to make waves in Philippine cinemas on Wednesday, May 24, 2023.
A view from the World Premiere of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Monday, May 8, 2023
(photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy, Javier Bardem, Noma Dumezweni, Halle Bailey, Ron Marshall, Art Malik, Daveed Diggs, Jessica Alexander, Awkwafina, Simone Ahsley, Jacob Tremblay, Lorena Andrea, Sienna King, Alan Menken, Marc Platt and John DeLuca attend the World Premiere of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Monday, May 8, 2023
(photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)Javier Bardem, Daveed Diggs, Jonah Hauer-King, Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, Alan Menken attend the World Premiere of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Monday, May 8, 2023
(photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 08: Heidi Klum attends the World Premiere of Disney’s live-action feature “The Little Mermaid” at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on May 08, 2023. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 08: (L-R) John DeLuca, Jodi Benson and Rob Marshall attend the World Premiere of Disney’s live-action feature “The Little Mermaid” at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on May 08, 2023. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
Star-Studded Ocean of Talent
The film’s ensemble cast includes the charismatic Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, Javier Bardem, Melissa McCarthy, Noma Dumezweni, and Art Malik. They joined visionary director/producer Rob Marshall, screenwriter David Magee, producers Marc Platt and John DeLuca, composer Alan Menken, and executive producer Jeffrey Silver. A parade of celebrity guests added to the night’s glow, including Jodi Benson, Heidi Klum, Yvette Nicole Brown, Anika Noni Rose, Eric Benet, John Stamos, Ellen Pompeo, Alyssa Milano, and more.
Jonah Hauer-King, Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy attend the World Premiere of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Monday, May 8, 2023
(photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 08: (L-R) Jonah Hauer-King and Javier Bardem attend the World Premiere of Disney’s live-action feature “The Little Mermaid” at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on May 08, 2023. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
“The Little Mermaid” has long captured hearts with its tale of Ariel, a young, adventurous mermaid with an insatiable curiosity. Ariel, the youngest and most headstrong of King Triton’s daughters, yearns to explore the world beyond her ocean home. Her heart skips a beat when she encounters the handsome Prince Eric on one of her forbidden surface visits. While mermaids are forbidden from interacting with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. Risking everything for love, Ariel strikes a precarious deal with the sinister sea witch, Ursula. While this pact gives her a taste of life on land, it also endangers her life and her father’s kingdom.
Halle Bailey attends the World Premiere of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Monday, May 8, 2023
(photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 08: (L-R) Awkwafina and Daveed Diggs attend the World Premiere of Disney’s live-action feature “The Little Mermaid” at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on May 08, 2023. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)Melissa McCarthy attends the World Premiere of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Monday, May 8, 2023
(photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)Sienna King, Jessica Alexander and Lorena Andrea attend the World Premiere of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Monday, May 8, 2023
(photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)
Our new Ariel is singer and actress Halle Bailey, known from “grown-ish”, while the charming Jonah Hauer-King of “A Dog’s Way Home” fame plays Prince Eric. The talented ensemble also includes Tony Award® winner Daveed Diggs (“Hamilton”) as Sebastian, Awkwafina (“Raya and the Last Dragon”) voicing Scuttle, Jacob Tremblay (“Room”) as Flounder, Noma Dumezweni (“Mary Poppins Returns”) as The Queen, Art Malik (“Homeland”) as Sir Grimsby, Oscar® winner Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men,” “Being the Ricardos”) as King Triton, and two-time Academy Award® nominee Melissa McCarthy (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” “Bridesmaids”) as Ursula.
Marc Platt, John Deluca and Rob Marshall attend the World Premiere of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Monday, May 8, 2023
(photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 08: (L-R) John DeLuca, Rob Marshall, Bob Iger, CEO, The Walt Disney Company, Halle Bailey and Alan Bergman, Co-Chairman, Disney Entertainment, attend the World Premiere of Disney’s live-action feature “The Little Mermaid” at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on May 08, 2023. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
Oscar® nominee Rob Marshall (“Chicago,” “Mary Poppins Returns”) takes the helm of this undersea adventure, accompanied by a screenplay from two-time Oscar nominee David Magee (“Life of Pi,” “Finding Neverland”). The unforgettable songs, composed by multiple Academy Award® winner Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin”) with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton,’ “In the Heights”). The film is produced by two-time Emmy® winner Marc Platt (“Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert,” “Grease Live!”), Miranda, two-time Emmy winner John DeLuca (“Tony Bennett: An American Classic”), and Rob Marshall, with Jeffrey Silver (“The Lion King”) serving as executive producer, are poised to get audiences singing along, just as they did with the beloved animated original.
Disney’s live-action reimagining of “The Little Mermaid” promises to bring a fresh tide of enchantment to the timeless tale, adding a new layer of depth to the magic of Disney storytelling. So, are you ready to dive back into the enchanting world of “The Little Mermaid”?
Disney has yet to take us into another adventure with their new animated feature film, Strange World!
Promising to be another fun family flick, Strange World follows the Clades, a family of legendary explorers who sets foot on an uncharted and treacherous land where fantastical creatures reside. But as they embark on this journey, the Clades’ differences will threaten their most crucial mission yet.
Before the release of the movie in cinemas, we got to chat with two Filipino artists who worked from behind the scenes of Strange World: Mikee Sevilla (Raya and the Last Dragon, Encanto) who served as an animator for the movie, and Virgilio John Aquino (Frozen 2, Raya and the Last Dragon) who served as a modeler. In a virtual roundtable interview, the two artists talked about their processes in working on the film, how they relate to its characters, and more!
Check out the highlights of the interview below:
What has it been like to witness that shift of diversity and representation in these animated films from Disney?
Mikee Sevilla (MS): I think it’s very important obviously, to have representation in films. That’s something that we’re always trying to strive for. Hopefully, this film inspires young kids to be themselves, be who they are, and allow them to be more comfortable.
Virgilio John Aquino (VJA) : I totally agree. Disney always strives to tell different stories and we always deal with different themes. In this case, we have three generations of the Clades, and they’re trying to get along and trying to figure each other out because everyone has their own dream. When kids see themselves, they’re gonna relate to young Ethan– all the kids who aspire to be themselves and just be accepted to be who they are, and just be allowed to be humans.
Photo: Disney website
In Strange World, did you have a favorite model to work on?
VJA: Yes actually. I worked on the Venture, which is the big exploration ship that they used to go on this fantastic journey into this unknown space. It’s a big task because it has to be a functioning, kind of ship, and it’s always great to see it on the big screen and on the small screen whenever we do testing and stuff.
How was it working on Disney films, before and during the pandemic, and now that we’re almost back to normal?
MS: I started with Disney when the pandemic happened. Even up to now, I’m still working from home, but they’re starting to bring people back in. Actually, in two weeks, I’ll be working onsite at Disney which I’m very excited about!
VJA: For me, it’s been a learning experience, especially during the pandemic. We’re always used to having our fellow artists in the next room, we’re always collaborating. But when the pandemic hit and we had to revert to working from home, it was a little disconcerting but you know, we worked it out and we were able to get our work done. Because we would be concerned that, ‘Oh my gosh, how are we gonna make films now? How are we gonna tell these fantastic stories?’ but when there’s a will there’s a way, and we were able to work from home and as Mikee said, we’re starting to get back into the building… It’s great that Disney is allowing us to have that flexibility to work from home, work hybrid, or just go in [and work full-time].
Photo: Disney website
To which character were you able to relate to the most?
VJA: I think for me, it was more with Ethan, because we’re talking about three generations in the film that are coming together. They’re trying to figure out how to relate to each other and stuff. For me, I’m always relating [them] to my father and my grandfather. You’re always gonna be the young one, you’re always gonna relate, because you grew up being a kid under their eyes, and then you grew up a little, and all of a sudden you have your own thoughts and your own ideas.
So I think that what’s interesting in the film, for me, is how they explore those relationships. And with Ethan, to me, he’s my point of view as far as how he deals with the generational gap and the communication gaps when you talk to your father and grandfather. Sometimes they cannot relate, and that’s fine. At some point you have to work things out.
Photo: Disney website
Is there a particular sequence that you worked on that was most memorable for you?
MS: I was cast on a few family shots where Ethan is talking with his mom in the Venture. That was a very meaningful sequence to work on, mainly because you could see Ethan just longing for something, and his mom being super supportive of it. And working on Ethan, in general, was very meaningful for me, because I got to be involved in pre-production for the character so that’s really figuring out who this character is and how this character moves and behaves. So one of the things I enjoyed doing was, sort of incorporating– although Ethan was I would say generally masculine, you know everyone has both feminine and masculine sides to them– and I think being playful, creating this character, and showing his softer side, that was really fun to do.
How different was it working on an animated film that has a sci-fi adventure genre?
MS: I think for this particular film, since we didn’t really do any research trips on this film, it was really just from your imagination, so I feel like the director was really responding to just strange, weird things. So it’s really just, go crazy, and we’ll sort of pull back if it gets too far. That’s a little different than the films that I had to work on because for films like Raya and Encanto, those are very cultural-specific things, so certain gestures are from that culture. So yeah, this one’s different, I would say, for sure.
VJA: I think that for this film, there was a pandemic going on and stuff. You know, what I had to do was really find that adventurous part of myself and inventive part in myself as well. And when I was tasked to model the Venture, there were a lot of mechanical things that I wasn’t privy to, because I’m not a mechanic. So I had to research online just how things work, how certain mechanisms would work if it was a real ship.
Then just before the pandemic, we actually had a team that took pictures of going into a real ship and just taking pictures of the interior of that ship. I was able to draw from that as well. But you know, I would like to have gone onto a real ship and looked at it myself, being a modeler and stuff. But a lot of it was like, 80% of it was research online, and 20% of it was pure imagination and just making stuff up, that’s very unique to the film, and I think that we pulled it off.
With the arrival of Disney+ in the Philippines, what are your top three recommendations from the streaming platform while we wait for Strange World to come out in cinemas?
MS: Well, Raya and The Last Dragon, Encanto, [laughs], and John, you give the third recommendation. What else would you recommend?
VJA: Zootopia, yeah, that’s a good one. For me, it would be Raya and The Last Dragon [laughs]. I always liked the classics, I always say, “Watch Beauty and The Beast.” That’s one of my favorite animated films of all time. And if I might be a little self-appreciating– self-promotion I mean– here, go see Lightning in a Bottle at the Short Circuit, there are a lot of great short stories there, but yeah, see mine too.
Stars and filmmakers came together in Hollywood tonight to celebrate the world premiere of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ original action-packed adventure “Strange World”—opening exclusively in theaters November 23. Attendees included Academy Award®- and Tony Award®-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal, who lends his voice to Searcher Clade, a family man who finds himself out of his element on an unpredictable mission; comedian, actor, writer, filmmaker and musician Jaboukie Young-White, who’s the voice of Searcher’s 16-year-old, adventure-seeking son, Ethan; and actress, producer, bestselling author and TIME100 cover honoree Gabrielle Union, who provides the voice of Meridian Clade, an accomplished pilot and Searcher’s partner in all things. Joining the voice cast were filmmakers Don Hall (director), Qui Nguyen (co-director/screenplay by), Roy Conli (producer) and composer Henry Jackman (music by). Event images are now available.
“Strange World” introduces a legendary family of explorers, the Clades, as they attempt to navigate an uncharted, treacherous land alongside a motley crew that includes a mischievous blob, a three-legged dog and a slew of ravenous creatures. The voice cast also includes Dennis Quaid as Searcher’s larger-than-life explorer father, Jaeger; and Lucy Liu as Callisto Mal, Avalonia’s fearless leader who spearheads the exploration into the strange world.
Disney+ is finally coming to the Philippines this December! Carrying a vast selection of films and shows from iconic brands such as Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, Star, and of course, Disney, making your pick right away could be a struggle. But if you’re a big fan of the magic that Disney has given viewers across generations, then this list has you covered!
Below are eight Disney movies that you might want to watch when Disney+ becomes available!
1. Encanto
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Encanto tells the tale of the Madrigals, who live in a magical house in a town hidden in the mountains of Colombia. Magic has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift from super strength to the power to heal—every child except one, Mirabel. But when the magic that gives her family power is put in danger, it will be up to Mirabel to save it.
2. Pinocchio (2022)
Academy Award winner Robert Zemeckis directs this live-action and CGI retelling of Pinocchio. Follow the adventure of the wooden puppet Pinocchio who was brought to life and treated by his creator and the woodcarver Gepetto as his real son. This adventure takes Pinocchio on a journey to becoming a real boy.
3. Disenchanted
A sequel to Enchanted, Amy Adams returns as Giselle who has just moved her growing family with Robert to the sleepy suburban community of Monroeville. Longing for that happily ever after, Giselle accidentally turns the suburbia into a real-life fairy tale and must correct her mistake before it compromises her family’s future happiness.
4.Hocus Pocus 2
Another Disney classic that recently got a sequel, Hocus Pocus 2 brings back the delightfully wicked Sanderson sisters for more comedic mayhem. When someone lights up the Black Flame Candle once again in the present day, it’s up to three high school students to stop the witches from spreading more chaos.
5. Raya and the Last Dragon
Raya and the Last Dragon takes viewers to the fantasy world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons lived together in harmony long ago. But when an evil force threatened the land, dragons sacrificed themselves to save the humans. Five hundred years later, this evil returns and the lone warrior Raya embarks on a journey to find the fabled last dragon to save the day.
6. Frozen II
The sequel to the hit Disney animated film follows Elsa, Anna, and the gang as they venture into the unknown to find answers about Elsa’s past. The perilous journey takes them to the enchanted forests and dark seas beyond Arendelle, to track down the mysterious force that calls out to Elsa.
7. Aladdin (2019)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foyufD52aog
The live-action remake of the classic Aladdin revisits the story of the charming street rat Aladdin as he seeks a brighter future with the help of the Genie he finds hidden inside the magic lamp. His adventures will lead his to cross paths with the courageous Princess Jasmine, who is also determined to find her place in the world.
8. Beauty and the Beast (2017)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3Nl_TCQXuw
Another live-action and CGI remake of a beloved Disney film, Beauty and the Beast tells the story of Belle who enters the mansion of the monstrous Beast after her father gets imprisoned inside. Soon, Belle discovers that the Beast has a heart, and she may be his only chance to return to his human form.
Besides these Disney movies, fans in the Philippines can look forward to a variety of original feature-length films, live-action and animated series, short-form content and documentaries from Hollywood to Hallyu including our iconic brands Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and Star.
Disney’s next animated film has revealed its wondrous trailer! Strange World will take a family of explorers into an uncharted land filled with strange yet fantastical creatures, as they go on their most important mission yet.
Watch the trailer for Strange World below:
The movie follows the Clades, a legendary family of explorers led by Searcher, who find themselves on an unpredictable mission. Searcher is joined by his larger-than-life father Jaeger, his adventure-seeking son Ethan, and his pilot and partner Meridian. The crew also consists of the fearless Callisto Mal, a mischievous blob, a three-legged dog, and a slew of ravenous creatures.
Directed by Don Hall (Big Hero 6) with co-director and co-writer Qui Nguyen (Raya and the Last Dragon), Strange World will feature the voices of Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Jaboukie Young-White, Gabrielle Union, and Lucy Liu.
Strange World is scheduled for a US release date on November 23. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get the latest news on film, TV, and more updates around the city!
Fans of the classic Disney flick The Little Mermaid are finally given a glimpse of its live-action iteration. Revealed at this year’s D23 expo, the teaser trailer features Halle Baile as Ariel, singing the iconic song Port of Your World.
Watch The Little Mermaid teaser trailer below:
A tale familiar to almost everyone, The Little Mermaid follows the mermaid Ariel who wishes to discover the fascinating life on land. Despite being forbidden by her father, King Triton, Ariel makes visits to the surface, and here she falls for a human prince. Determined to be with him, the little mermaid strikes a dangerous deal with the sea witch Ursula so she can have human legs for three days. But the deal will not go without consequences.
The film also stars Daveed Diggs as the voice of Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay as the voice of Flounder; Awkwafina as the voice of Scuttle; Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric; Art Malik as Sir Grimsby; Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina; Javier Bardem as King Triton; and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula.
The movie is set for release in US theaters on May 26, 2023. It is directed by Rob Marshall and written by David Magee. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get the latest news on film, TV, and more updates around the city!
London’s Cineworld Leicester Square welcomed stars, filmmakers and special guests to celebrate Pixar Animation Studios’ 26th feature film, “Lightyear.” Chris Evans (voice of Buzz Lightyear), Keke Palmer (voice of Izzy Hawthorne), Taika Waititi (voice of Mo) and British astronaut Tim Peake, who lends his voice to Tim/Mission Control in the UK version of the film, greeted fans alongside filmmakers Angus MacLane (directed by/story by/screenplay by) and Galyn Susman, p.g.a. (produced by), as well as U.K. celebrities and presenters.
“Lightyear” opens in Philippine cinemas tomorrow, June 15.
ABOUT THE MOVIE
A sci-fi action adventure and the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy, “Lightyear” follows the legendary Space Ranger after he’s marooned on a hostile planet 4.2 million light-years from Earth alongside his commander and their crew. As Buzz tries to find a way back home through space and time, he’s joined by a group of ambitious recruits and his charming robot companion cat, Sox. Complicating matters and threatening the mission is the arrival of Zurg, an imposing presence with an army of ruthless robots and a mysterious agenda.
The film features the voices of Chris Evans as accomplished Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear, Uzo Aduba as his commander and best friend Alisha Hawthorne and Peter Sohn as Sox. Keke Palmer, Taika Waititi and Dale Soules lend their voices to the Junior Zap Patrol’s Izzy Hawthorne, Mo Morrison and Darby Steel, respectively, and James Brolin can be heard as the enigmatic Zurg. The voice cast also includes Mary McDonald-Lewis as onboard computer I.V.A.N., Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Commander Burnside, Efren Ramirez as Airman Díaz, Keira Hairston as Young Izzy and Tim Peake as Tim/Mission Control (in U.K. release). Directed by Angus MacLane (co-director “Finding Dory”), produced by Galyn Susman (“Toy Story That Time Forgot”) and featuring a score by award-winning composer Michael Giacchino (“The Batman,” “Up”), Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear” opens in Philippine cinemas tomorrow, June 15.
(L-R) Angus MacLane, Galyn Susman, Producer and Chris Evans
Stars, filmmakers and special guests came together tonight at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre to celebrate Pixar Animation Studios’ 26th feature film, “Lightyear.” Members of the voice cast in attendance include Chris Evans (Buzz Lightyear), Keke Palmer (Izzy Hawthorne), Peter Sohn (Sox), Dale Soules (Darby Steel), James Brolin (Zurg), Uzo Aduba (Alisha Hawthorne), Mary McDonald-Lewis (I.V.A.N.), Isiah Whitlock Jr. (Commander Burnside) and Efren Ramirez (Airman Díaz). Joining them were filmmakers Angus MacLane (directed by/story by/screenplay by), Galyn Susman, p.g.a. (produced by), Jason Headley (story by/screenplay by) and Michael Giacchino (music by). Special guests in attendance include Jabari Banks, Yvette Nicole Brown, Sherry Cola, Matt Cornett, Denise Crosby, Patrick Fabian, Xochitl Gomez, Jack Dylan Grazer, Tiffany Haddish, Skai Jackson, De Andre Jordan, Nathan Kress, Tom Marshburn, Griffin Matthews, Aaron Paul, Kristen Schaal, Iman Shumpert, Patrick Starr, Andre Swilley, Jon Voight, Ramona Young and Idara Victor.
“Lightyear” opens in Philippine cinemas this Wednesday, June 15, 2022.
ABOUT THE MOVIE
A sci-fi action adventure and the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy, “Lightyear” follows the legendary Space Ranger after he’s marooned on a hostile planet 4.2 million light-years from Earth alongside his commander and their crew. As Buzz tries to find a way back home through space and time, he’s joined by a group of ambitious recruits and his charming robot companion cat, Sox. Complicating matters and threatening the mission is the arrival of Zurg, an imposing presence with an army of ruthless robots and a mysterious agenda.
The film features the voices of Chris Evans as accomplished Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear, Uzo Aduba as his commander and best friend Alisha Hawthorne and Peter Sohn as Sox. Keke Palmer, Taika Waititi and Dale Soules lend their voices to the Junior Zap Patrol’s Izzy Hawthorne, Mo Morrison and Darby Steel, respectively, and James Brolin can be heard as the enigmatic Zurg. The voice cast also includes Mary McDonald-Lewis as onboard computer I.V.A.N., Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Commander Burnside, Efren Ramirez as Airman Diaz, and Keira Hairston as Young Izzy. Directed by Angus MacLane (co-director “Finding Dory”), produced by Galyn Susman (“Toy Story That Time Forgot”) and featuring a score by award-winning composer Michael Giacchino (“The Batman,” “Up”), Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear” opens Philippine in cinemas on June 15, 2022.
For years we’ve seen Buzz Lightyear as half of Toy Story‘s leading duo, alongside the cowboy Woody. But Disney and Pixar are set to change our view of the iconic character in the upcoming Toy Story spinoff film, Lightyear.
The new film is set to explore the story that inspired the toy. It will follow the legendary Space Ranger, as he travels through space and time to find a way back home after getting stuck on a hostile planet. But it’s not that easy, especially with the evil emperor Zurg trying to thwart the mission.
Watch the trailer below:
Before you see this exciting spinoff film on the big screen, we’ve rounded up some fun facts about Lightyear that you might find interesting!
1. Chris Evans is the new voice of Buzz
In the Toy Story franchise, Buzz has been consistently voiced by Tim Allen, but for this film, Chris Evans is lending his voice to the character. In an interview with IGN, producer Galyn Susman answers why they decided to cast a different actor for the “meta” film: “There was so much initial confusion about our pitch, that it became really clear that we needed to have some clear delineators. We needed a different voice. And our Buzz had to have hair. We needed some things that made it clear that this is not the Toy Story Buzz.”
2. Zurg’s previous appearances
In case you forgot, Zurg has also been a recurring character in the Toy Story franchise, being Buzz’s archenemy even as a toy. In Toy Story 2, Zurg is also oblivious about himself being a toy and tries to stop Buzz in his mission to save Woody from the toy dealer Al McWhiggin. At the end of Toy Story 3, Zurg is also seen being added to the toys at Sunnyside Daycare. But in Lightyear, we can expect a more menacing Zurg as the trailer teased.
Another fun fact about this new Zurg: he will be voiced by James Brolin, the father of Josh Brolin. So in a way, we’ll see Captain America fight Thanos’ dad.
Photo: Lightyear trailer
3. A cute robot cat joins Buzz in his mission
Joining Buzz on his mission is a robot cat named SOX. The adorable character can talk and accompanies the Space Ranger throughout his journey across time and space. If the voice sounds familiar, he is voiced by Peter Sohn, a Korean-American animator and director who has voiced the likes of Emile in Ratatouille, Forrest Woodbush in The Good Dinosaur (which he also directed), and Ciccio in Luca. Sohn is also directing the upcoming Disney film Elemental.
4. The sets and ships took inspiration from NASA
In an interview with Variety, set art director Greg Peltz shared how NASA’s real ships and structures inspired the ships and sets in Lightyear. “We looked at the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA, that huge structure where they build the giant space rockets,” Peltz says. “Take the car crawler, it’s a rail vehicle and it has these giant clamps that grasp it and lock it into place. When you’re ready to launch, the steam comes off it, and you see these moving parts.”
Photo: Lightyear trailer
5. NASA took Buzz Lightyear to space once
We know that Buzz Lightyear’s name was inspired by Apollo 11’s Buzz Aldrin. But did you know that Buzz the toy also had his time in space in real life? Back in 2008, a Buzz Lightyear toy was taken by NASA to the International Space Station with the crew of the STS-124 space shuttle mission. The toy returned to Earth 15 months later.
Lightyear opens in cinemas nationwide this Wednesday, June 15, 2022. Book your seats in advance and buy your tickets here.
