Casting What-Ifs
Billy Crystal, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Mel Gibson or Bruce Willis as Buzz; Jim Carrey as Buzz with Paul Newman as Woody; Rick Moranis as Rex
In the discussion (12)
Approx. transcript time · 01:01:03Read transcript
- Billy Crystal declined Buzz, later called it the biggest mistake of his career, and was then offered Mike Wazowski in Monsters, Inc.
- Crystal is judged not rigid enough for Buzz, unlike Tim Allen's chin-out delivery.
- Chevy Chase turned down Buzz; he is judged unable to pull it off because his corners are a little too rounded.
- Bill Murray is rejected as too snarky to deliver the "sad, strange little man" line seriously.
- A 1995 Mel Gibson is judged capable of the role.
- Bruce Willis gets a thumbs up with doubts, and his Look Who's Talking voice work is praised.
- Tim Allen has said Pixar wanted Jim Carrey for Buzz and Paul Newman for Woody but could not afford them, meant to reflect new Hollywood taking over old; Newman later voiced Doc Hudson in Cars.
- One should never say no to Paul Newman, but Tom Hanks's Woody is too ingrained to imagine anyone else. — Mallory Rubin
- Hanks and Allen as generational peers, a movie pillar and a TV star, is preferred; Newman fits better as Doc.
- Newman is the only name that could have replaced Hanks, because Woody needs a peach-soft voice; several actors, such as Robert Redford or Denzel Washington, could have played Buzz.
- Rick Moranis was reportedly approached for Rex, which would have been great.
- An online claim of Jeremy Irons as Mr. Potato Head is raised but unconfirmed.