Disney’s Lightyear Release Date on Disney+ Announced

Today, Disney+ revealed plans to stream Disney and Pixar’s Lightyear, the movie that gives the big-screen story behind the beloved toy from Toy Story, beginning August 3, 2022. That’s roughly in line with the 45-day theatrical window that most Disney movies are getting, with the exception of mega-hits like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which had a longer theatrical run than most. Lightyear fell short of those lofty numbers, earning $213 million at the worldwide box office and being cleared out of most theaters to make room for other summer blockbusters.

To mark the Disney+ announcement, a new teaser celebrating the upcoming launch is now available. You can see that below.

“Lightyear looks amazing on the big screen, of course, but we are so excited to bring it to Disney+,” said Angus MacLane, who helmed the film. “We devoted years of our lives to this film and we are so proud of it. We want to share it with as many people as possible. Disney+ not only gives more fans an opportunity to see Lightyear, it gives us all the means to see it again and again.” 

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Here’s Disney’s official synopsis of the film:

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 is in theaters now. 

Lightyear streams on Disney+ beginning Aug. 3, 2022.