The Lightyear movie is coming out next weekend with a new voice behind the iconic space traveler Buzz Lightyear. With the movie coming out and a new cast I thought it would be fun to look at the cast and see what some of the forgotten or early roles are the stars had that not many people are talking about.
Chris Evans – The Newcomers
Chris Evans has gone onto become one of the biggest names in Hollywood and while I did see most of his high school/college era aged characters of ‘Not Another Teen Movies’ ‘Perfect Score’ and ‘Cellular’ it is ‘The Newcomers’ which is the one I think we could look back on and see what we had from the young starlet. The Newcomers does have an impressive cast of Kate Bosworth, Paul Dano, Josh Peck, Jeff Fahey and Matt McCoy. It might well look like a standard coming-of-age tale, but Chris Evans playing the love interest of the eldest daughter might bring us a few laughs along the way.
Keke Palmer – Akeelah and the Bee
Keke Palmer has had quite the career already, mixing acting with music, she is stepping into the Lightyear world, even though ‘Nope’ is the one I personally want to see the most. Back in 2006, Keke took the leading role in Akeelah and the Bee, where Akeelah takes on the National Spelling Bee with Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne taking the big-name positions in the movie.
Taika Waititi – Scarfies (Crime 101)
Taika Waititi has gone onto become one of the most popular directors and comedic actors in the industry, but before that he was going by the name Taika Cohen he starred in the movie Crime 101 when first release before getting the new name Scarfies in 1999. A movie that looks a lot like Danny Boyle’s ‘Shallow Grave’ with slick action and comedy in the chaos infused movie.
Efren Ramirez – Jury Duty
Efren Ramirez is most famous for his performance in Napoleon Dynamite and the best friend Pedro. In 1995 he starred in ‘Jury Duty’ the Pauly Shore comedy with Stanley Tucci and while he only has a small role as a private eye’s employee, we know the most Pauly Shore movies are down in cult status now, surely this will be the same?
James Brolin – Von Ryan’s Express
James Brolin has been in Hollywood for over half a decade now, a legend for the lack of a better world. His first credited role was in the Frank Sinatra starring Von Ryan’s Express about an American POW that leads an escape of British prisoners during World War II. This does look like a fun action-adventure movie, even if it does feel similar to The Great Escape.
Which other early roles do you remember from the careers of the actors above?