“He was way more professional about it than people probably would assume,” the “Toy Story 5” director and Pixar’s Vice President of Creative tells EW.

Pixar’s Andrew Stanton says Lightyear conversation ‘was never that uncomfortable’ with Tim Allen: ‘We talked early on’ (exclusive)

"He was way more professional about it than people probably would assume," the "Toy Story 5" director and Pixar's Vice President of Creative tells EW.

By Nick Romano

Nick Romano

Nick Romano is a senior editor at ** with 15 years of journalism experience covering entertainment. His work previously appeared in Vanity Fair, Vulture, IGN, and more.

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April 29, 2026 11:00 a.m. ET

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Tim Allen at CinemaCon 2026; Chris Evans-voiced Buzz Lightyear in 'Lightyear'. Credit:

Ben Trivett; Disney

- Andrew Stanton, Tim Allen's director on *Toy Story 5* and a larger Pixar figurehead, clarifies the *Lightyear* "controversy."

- "It was never that uncomfortable," he says of talking with Allen about the Chris Evans-led movie.

- Allen said in 2022 he wished the film had "a better connection" to the toy character of Buzz Lightyear.

Prior to Tim Allen's return as the voice of Buzz Lightyear in Pixar's *Toy Story 5*, a public debate waged over the studio's 2022 film *Lightyear*.

The film didn't feature Allen and instead starred Chris Evans as the voice of the Buzz Lightyear movie character that would inspire a line of toys in the narrative of *Toy Story*. Put more simply, "In 1995, a boy named Andy got a Buzz Lightyear toy for his birthday. It was from his favorite movie. This is that movie," the opening title card of *Lightyear* reads.

Allen spoke about his feelings on the matter, calling *Lightyear* "a wonderful story" that "just doesn't seem to have any connection to the toy." He said during a 2022 *Extra* interview, "I wish there was a better connection." Other public figures, including actress Patricia Heaton, used stronger words.

Andrew Stanton, Allen's director on the upcoming *Toy Story 5* and a larger figure at Pixar, talks about what was going on behind the scenes. He clarifies it wasn't as dramatic as it may have sounded in the press.

Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz (Tim Allen) in 'Toy Story 5'.

"We talked early on. There was the talk before *Lightyear* was made, there was a talk after *Lightyear* was made, and he was way more professional about it than people probably would assume," Stanton, Pixar's Vice President of Creative and a member of the studio's Brain Trust, tells **. "He'd been in the business a long time, and he knows that things change, people try things. We were always clear that this has no bearing on Buzz, the toy. It will always be you until we can't make it you, which, hopefully, we will always find a way that's to your liking. So, no, it was never that uncomfortable, thank God."

Allen has been the voice of Buzz, the toy, since 1995's *Toy Story*, which earned Stanton an Oscar nomination for writing. The actor returns alongside Tom Hanks as Woody, Joan Cusack as Jessie, and other famous voice talents for *Toy Story 5*. Stanton has been involved with every film in this animated saga behind the scenes, but this marks his first time directing them. He was previously at the helm for *A Bug's Life*, *Finding Nemo*, *Finding Dory*, and *WALL-E*.

Here's how Woody reunites with Buzz and the gang in 'Toy Story 5'

'Toy Story 5' faces tech age as a Pixar legend comes full circle (exclusive)

The movie sees the introduction of Lilypad (Greta Lee), a smart device gifted to now-8-year-old Bonnie (Scarlett Spears) by her parents to help connect with kids her own age online. Once tech enters the home, the child devotes all her attention to screens, leaving the toys abandoned.

Speaking separately, Allen thought *Toy Story 4* "was it" for the franchise, but Hanks adds how Stanton's story — about the time in all our lives when we're told it's no longer cool to play with toys — "knocked me out."

'Toy Story 5' concept art of 50 high-tech Buzz Lightyears.

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Now Allen voices 51 Buzz Lightyears in the next sequel. In addition to the main Buzz, the *Home Improvement* and *Last Man Standing* veteran voices a legion of 50 high-tech Buzz figures that awaken from their plastic packaging after the shipping crate carrying them falls off a boat and onto a deserted island.

“I thought, *Finally, I get more screentime than Woody*," Allen jokes. "That's literally all I said because...I always said that, 'I think there should be more Buzz.' They added the '-es' to it. So Andrew says, 'We did what you said. There's more Buzzes in this.'"

*Toy Story 5* premieres in theaters on June 19.

- Animated Movies

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Animated”