Lightyear star and Marvel Cinematic Universe icon Chris Evans questioned the status of his career as an actor in hilarious fashion.
During his “Plays with Puppies” interview with Buzzfeed, the acclaimed actor was asked as what point in his career he knew he had “made it.” In spite of his Hollywood fame, Evans shot back, “Have I?” with a laugh and added, “I don’t know.”
Evans’ career started small in the late 90s before taking a different trajectory following his starring role in 2001’s Not Another Teen Movie. Though the film was critically panned, its commercial success has been attributed to the much needed jumpstart Evans needed. The actor commented on the frequently cringe-worthy film, saying, “At the time, I was so thrilled to be a part of the movie, it didn’t even cross my mind that it was some sort of, like, an artistic compromise or something. I thought it was hilarious at the time.”
Evans has since become an indelible part of the MCU, beginning with his first appearance as Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger. He reprised the role for six subsequent films, as well as an uncredited cameo in 2015’s Ant-Man starring Paul Rudd. While Evans’ Captain America is still referenced in MCU properties, his character officially retired following the events of 2019’s Avengers: Endgame.
Evans’ latest starring role in Lightyear, a spinoff of the Toy Story franchise, has been met with largely positive reviews from both critics and audiences, but his portrayal of Buzz Lightyear has left some fans wondering why series mainstay Tim Allen didn’t reprise the role. Director Angus MacLane previously commented on the subject, saying, “The tone [of Lightyear] is a lot different [to that of the Toy Story movies].” He continued, “Tim is hilarious, but this character wouldn’t work as well with him doing the Space Ranger voice. It would not be as emotional. It just changes the tone of the movie. We were going for more of a classic sci-fi film.”
Lightyear takes place outside the regular Toy Story continuity, instead focusing on the “real life” adventures of its titular hero. McLane clarified how the film fit into the canon of the franchise, explaining, “Now you remember in Toy Story, Andy had a birthday party. His favorite gift was a character that he loved, Buzz Lightyear the Space Ranger. And it was a toy that would redefine playtime for Andy.” He continued, “And I’ve always wondered what movie was Buzz from, you know? Why couldn’t we just make that movie? So that’s what we did. Presenting Lightyear, the movie that Andy saw that changed his life. Andy’s Star Wars. A sci-fi epic designed to inspire a new generation.”
Lightyear is in theaters now.
Source: YouTube