Disney-Pixar this week confirmed what long had been rumored — the original “Cars” cast from the fictional Route 66 town of Radiator Springs will make an appearance in the upcoming “Cars 3” film this summer.
“Cars 3” is introducing a bunch of new characters who are trying to get Lightning McQueen back on the racetrack — or trying to stop him — after a career-changing crash early in the film, according to a synopsis.
But Route 66 fans who favor the cast members from the original 2006 film will like this part of Thursday’s news release:
“Cars 3” also welcomes the gang from Radiator Springs back to the big screen, including Lightning McQueen’s best buddy Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy), and #95’s No. 1 fan Sally (voice of Bonnie Hunt). Friends supporting their hometown hero include Fillmore (voice of Lloyd Sherr), Sarge (voice of Paul Dooley), Lizzie (voice of Katherine Helmond), Ramon (voice of Cheech Marin), Sheriff (voice of Michael Wallis) and Flo (voice of Jenifer Lewis).
Loyal transporter Mack (voice of John Ratzenberger), big-hearted Italian Fiat 500 Luigi (voice of Tony Shalhoub) and charming little Italian forklift Guido (voice of Guido Quaroni) continue to support Lightning McQueen’s racing endeavors. World-renowned sports announcer Bob Cutlass (voice of Bob Costas) is still calling the races, and Chick Hicks (voice of Bob Peterson) is back—this time as a commentator on the Racing Sports Network. The lovable duo Dusty (voice of Ray Magliozzi) and Rusty (voice of Tom Magliozzi) return as Rust-eze’s chief proprietors—though they have big things in store for Lightning McQueen.
The baritone-voiced Wallis wrote the best-selling “Route 66: The Mother Road” and served as a guide when Pixar animators did field research on the real Route 66.
More about the real-life people and places on Route 66 that inspired the original “Cars” film may be found here. (It remains the most popular story ever posted on Route 66 News.)
Sherr replaces George Carlin as the voice of Fillmore. Carlin died at age 71 in 2008. Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire, who inspired the creation of Fillmore, died of cancer about a year later.
Paul Newman voiced Doc Hudson in the original film. Newman died at age 83 in 2008. Because “Cars 3” likely is the most racing-centered of the films, it’s not a stretch to think Doc Hudson will be it somehow. If Pixar has a card up its sleeve about this, it probably won’t show it until the premiere.
“Cars 3” rolls into theaters June 16.
(Image of the new “Cars 3” movie poster courtesy of Disney-Pixar)
NASCAR support has been on the decline the last few years, and needs a kick-in-the-pants to boost attendance. Perhaps those who have enjoyed the “CARS” movies will have some impact this summer.
Here is a clip from a USA TODAY article:
“USA TODAY Sports asked about 200 fans at tracks, on the phone and on social media who have reduced their racetrack trips to explain why (they no longer attend). The three most-cited reasons:
–Cost of the trip. Fans said tickets are the smallest impact on their financial decision, because ticket prices are dwarfed by the cost of hotel rooms and transportation to events.
–NASCAR’s competition-related decisions and constant rules changes have hurt the sport’s credibility and turned off some traditional fans.
–The experience is different. Instead of a midway with souvenir haulers, there’s now one merchandise tent area. Pre-race entertainment such as the Sprint Experience and Fox’s NASCAR RaceDay TV stage are gone.”
As for Route 66 fans, this new animation flick will certainly boost theater visitation. As for myself, I will wait until I can see the movie at the Route 66 Drive-In in Carthage! 😉