Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) is back on the big screen with Disney/Pixar’s Cars 3, but he’s not a rookie anymore. Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Piston- Cup champion finds himself suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves.
“The next-gen racers are cool,” says director Brian Fee. “You can see instantly that cars like Jackson Storm are effortlessly fast. We designed these younger, faster cars to be sleek and aerodynamic—and they’re a sharp contrast to Lightning McQueen.”
While Lightning is still the same self-assured, determined and fun-loving race car audiences fell in love with, his confidence is being tested by the new cars on the track.
“When we first met Lightning McQueen, he was a young rookie—a superhero,” says Fee. “He had his whole life ahead of him. And while he’s done well since we last saw him, he’s not a young hotshot racer anymore. We kept circling the idea of what happens when an athlete like Lightning is in the twilight of his career.”
Enter Cruz Ramirez (voiced by Cristela Alonzo) who is tasked with getting Lightning McQueen back on track after a devastating setback. Her training style is high-tech, enthusiastic and steadfast— she’s not afraid to apply a little tough love.
But there’s more to Cruz than meets the eye. “I love Cruz’s story,” says co-producer Andrea Warren. “She’s such an admirable, likable character. She’s so passionate about racing and her role to create champions. The movie isn’t just about Lightning McQueen—it’s Cruz’s story, in many ways.”
Another interesting addition to the cast is statistical analyst Natalie Certain (voiced by Kerry ashington). Book-smart and mathematically gifted, Certain is a fresh voice in the racing world. While she may earn top marks in her ability to evaluate a racer’s stats, she could be underestimating the importance of determination. Accor-ding to production designer Jay Shuster, Natalie Certain’s look is a little more sophisticated by design. “She’s a tech-savvy sedan with details that reflect a controlled and discreet elegance.”
The Scandal star, however maintains that her character is nothing like her in in real life. “Natalie Certain is a know-it-all, bossy pants, super-nerdy character. I’m nothing like that, so it was a stretch, but I was somehow able to access the truth of this character who thinks she knows everything.”
Cars 3 releases in theatres today.