The setup for Lightyear 2 began 23 years before the first film was even made, as Toy Story 2 secretly already teased what the sequel’s story should be. Pixar spun the Toy Story franchise in a new direction with 2022’s Lightyear, a movie that is meant to be the film in this fictional universe that Andy saw as a kid and inspired the Buzz Lightyear toys. This created a number of questions about how Lightyear connects to the Toy Story movies and fits within the established canon.
Pixar might not have announced plans for a Lightyear sequel already, but the movie makes it clear that a franchise with Chris Evans’ Buzz Lightyear is already in mind. The ending saw Buzz begin leading a new team of Space Rangers made up of Izzy, Mo, and Darby. It is quite clear the quartet will continue traveling the galaxy in search of adventure. Lighyear‘s post-credits scene even teased that Zurg – who is really a future version of Buzz – is still alive, meaning he could return as the villain of a sequel. However, Lightyear 2‘s story was actually already set up in Toy Story 2.
The events of Toy Story 2 take place a few years after the first film and when Lightyear would have been released in theaters. The world that Andy’s toys exist in, though, indicates that the movie franchise for Buzz Lightyear has continued to expand. Rex is obsessed with a Buzz Lightyear video game at the beginning of Toy Story 2, while the presence of Utility Belt Buzz in stores shows that the IP is expanding in several ways. Thanks to Lightyear, it now seems that the timing of this Buzz Lightyear merchandise would line up with when a sequel to the hit movie would come out. As a result, they seemingly provide insight into what Lightyear 2‘s story should be.
Based on the brief glimpses provided at the “Buzz Lightyear: Attack on Zurg” video game, its potential connection to Lightyear 2 indicates that a Zurg rematch is on the horizon. The game sees Buzz Lightyear head to Gamma Quadrant Sector 4 and find Zurg’s new fortress. While video game adaptations of movies often take some liberties with the story, the overall premise of the game does not fit with Lightyear. It makes more sense as a video game adaptation of the sequel instead. Buzz is fully equipped with a powerful utility belt that should be a new addition in Lightyear 2, resulting in a boost in toy sales yet again.
While these Toy Story 2 details were certainly not intended to be the basis for Chris Evans’ Buzz Lightyear story in Lightyear 2, they now can hold much more weight if Pixar’s new possible franchise utilizes them. The first film does not always line up with what fans thought Buzz’s established character story was, such as going against the Zurg is Buzz’s father reveal from Toy Story 2. Just as Lightyear made changes, it is possible that Pixar will keep updating the space ranger’s story to fit a new franchise. But, the studio also already teased where the Lightyear 2 story could go if they want to follow alongside Toy Story 2.
