Lightyear Cast: Other Roles You’ve Seen the Actors Play

The best actors of our time are dynamic, flexible, and completely diverse in the roles they play. They don’t fit in one particular box, and what it takes to be a successful actor in this day and age lies in the ability to not only take a role and perform well, but make it your own. For the star-studded cast of Lightyear, their reputations practically speak for themselves. From the Marvel Cinematic Universe to other animated projects and even television shows, it is not surprising that some of the biggest names in this cast have been a part of their fair share of commerically and critically successful projects.

Per Collider, Lightyear comes out on June 17 of this year and will be a kind of origin story for the icon that is Buzz Lightyear, a character that came into life in 1995’s Toy Story. In a very fitting casting choice, Chris Evans will go to infinity and beyond as the voice of Buzz Lightyear. Other notable actors in the movie include Taika Waititi, James Brolin, Peter Sohn, Keke Palmer, and Uzo Aduba. As we approach the release of Disney’s Lightyear, we have detailed some of the roles that some of the cast have played before.

Chris Evans

Chris Evans will be voicing Buzz Lightyear in this upcoming film and the casting is so perfect. Evans has definitely cemented his name as part of the Hollywood elite. One iconic role that has definitely boosted, if not defined, his career so far is his role as Captain America or Steve Rogers in the MCU. Evans played Captain America until his departure in Avengers: Endgame. Another notable role Evans has played in his career is in the 2019 comedic mystery drama Knives Out. Evans played Ransom Drysdale, the charming family outlier that dedicates his time to helping our main protagonist Marta Cabrera, played by Ana de Armas. Evans' skills as a dynamic actor also shine in his starring role as Frank Adler in the 2017 drama film Gifted. In this project, Evans stars alongside the talented McKenna Grace in a movie that will tug at the heartstrings.

Taika Waititi

Taika Waititi has played a variety of roles throughout his career and will be voicing Mo Morrison in the upcoming Lightyear movie. In addition to this role, Waititi, similarly to Evans, has been a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Waititi plays Korg, an alien made up of rocks that Thor befriends in Thor: Ragnarok. His wholesome and comedic character is widely loved by fans, and, in fact, Waititi is expected to bring his role as Korg back to life in the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder. You also might recognize Waititi from his role as Adolf Hitler in the 2019 film Jojo Rabbit. Waititi, having starred in, written, and directed the film, won an Academy Award, a BAFTA, and a Critics Choice Movie Award for Jojo Rabbit.

Keke Palmer

Keke Palmer's acting career is definitely one for the record books. In Lightyear, Palmer will be the voice of Izzy Hawthorne. Palmer is keeping busy this year. Not only will she be in Lightyear, but she will star as Jill Haywood in Jordan Peele's upcoming sci-fi horror movie Nope, set to release in July. However, as a former child actress, the public is definitely familiar with some of her previous roles. Palmer was the lead of her own comedy series on Nickelodeon called True Jackson VP, as well as starring in multiple projects throughout her career, such as Akeelah in Akeelah and the Bee, Mary Thomas in Disney Channel original movie Jump In!, and as Kadee Worth in Nickelodeon's Rags.

Uzo Aduba

Uzo Aduba will be playing Alisha Hawthorne, a lesbian astronaut in Lightyear. However, she is probably most known for her role in the Netflix Original series Orange Is the New Black. Aduba played Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren throughout the entire series and quickly became a fan favorite in the show. This drama lasted 7 seasons and, to this day, remains one of the most popular Netflix Original projects to date. In addition to the success of that role, Aduba has also made her talent known in film. She played Shirley Chisholm in the 2020 limited series Mrs. America in which she starred alongside Cate Blanchett, Sarah Paulsen, Rose Bryrne, and Elizabeth Banks. Aduba won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie as well as a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries.

Peter Sohn

Peter Sohn may not be the most recognizable face in terms of his acting career. However, you have most definitely heard his voice. Sohn has voiced some very cherished animated characters throughout his career. He is the voice of Squishy in Monsters University. In this prequel to Monsters Inc, Squishy is part of Oozma Kappa, the fraternity Mike and Sully become a part of during their time in scare school. Also, if that was not enough, Sohn is also the voice of Emile, Remi's brother in Ratatouille. Just to add to his Disney filmography even further, Sohn has also voiced Pet Collector in The Good Dinosaur as well as other supporting characters in Up and Luca.