Lightyear Interview: Keke Palmer and Uzo Aduba Pinpoint Their Greatest Mentors

Pixar’s Lightyear is about a Space Ranger who embarks on a daring mission in an effort to get his team back to Earth, but the film also heavily emphasizes the importance of human connection via that sci-fi adventure. While out exploring a potentially resource-rich planet, Buzz (voiced by Chris Evans) makes a devastating call that leaves his team of more than 1,000 scientists and technicians stranded on an unwelcoming planet called T’Kani Prime. After the incident, his commander, Uzo Aduba’s Alisha Hawthorne, opts to accept their situation and build a life for herself and her team on the hostile planet. Buzz, however, refuses. He’s determined to right his wrong, so while others manage to create fulfilling lives on T’Kani Prime, Buzz lets his own pass him by. It isn’t until he comes face to face with Alisha’s granddaughter, Izzy (Keke Palmer), that he’s inspired to reconsider how he’s approaching this mission. With Lightyear now playing in theaters nationwide, I got the chance to chat