If Disney and Pixar’s inaugural teaser trailer for Cars 3 stole the headlines for its harrowing tone, showcasing a certain red stock car spiraling wildly through the air, the animation giants have today unveiled the other side of Brian Fee’s animated threequel, in which we’re introduced to Jackson Storm and the iconic Lightning McQueen.
It’s a markedly different teaser from what we’ve seen before, showing McQueen as his usual, sprightly self, racing off into the darkness – and, presumably, onto the race track. For Cars 3 will show Owen Wilson’s chirpy lead at his lowest moment, as he’s effectively blindsided by the next generation of upcoming racers ready to lay claim to the circuit.
It’s about the closest thing an automobile will get to a mid-life crisis and in Cars 3, McQueen will be nursed back to recovery by Cruz Ramirez, a sprightly, overly positive racer. Though she doesn’t actually feature in today’s teasing snippet, we fully expect to lay eyes on Cruz when the full trailer arrives in the coming days.
Hoping to harness the infectious energy of the original Cars – even at $560 million worldwide, Cars 2 is widely considered a disappointing misfire – director Brian Fee has stressed that the imminent threequel is designed to be less cartoony than its predecessors, which ought to make for a more emotional – and hopefully successful – ride.
“From this moment, everything will change.” Cars 3 will make a beeline for theaters on June 16, 2017. Also on board are Larry the Cable Guy as Mater, Bonnie Hunt as Sally Carrera, and Cheech Marin as Ramone.
Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician, Cruz Ramirez, with her own plan to win, plus inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet and a few unexpected turns. Proving that #95 isn’t through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage!
