Cars 2 is an upcoming computer-animated 3-D film produced by Pixar Animation Studios. It will be the sequel to the 2006 film, Cars. It will be distributed by Walt Disney Pictures and is scheduled for release in theaters on June 24, 2011.^[2] Ratatouille producer Brad Lewis and John Lasseter will co-direct. The film would be converted into IMAX 3D and the production was started in October 25, 2010.

Plot

The story sees Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson), his pit team and new pit boss Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) head around the world for the Race of Champions, to take place in five different countries and involve the champions of different disciplines like Formula One and rally driving. First up is a race in Tokyo, starting at Mount Fuji and heading downtown; then there's a German race through the Black Forest; then "Porto Corsa" in Italy, which is based partly on the Monte Carlo Grand Prix; then a 24-hour race around Paris (so somewhat like Le Mans then) and finally a thrilling climax in London, approaching Buckingham Palace (where the guards appear to be Land Rovers). However, Mater, involved in a case of mistaken identity, saves the life of a British secret agent named Finn McMissile and finds himself embroiled in the world of international espionage.

Cast

Data from TheMovieInsider.com, as of October 24, 2010.

• Owen Wilson as Lightning McQueen
• Larry the Cable Guy as Mater
• Cheech Marin as Ramone
• Bonnie Hunt as Sally Carrera (rumored)
• Tony Shalhoub as Luigi
• John Ratzenberger as Mack

Cars is the second Pixar film, after Toy Story, to have a sequel. Cars 2 originally was scheduled for a 2012 release, but Pixar moved the release up a year. Lasseter conceived the sequel's story while traveling around the world promoting the first film. "I kept looking out thinking, 'What would Mater do in this situation, you know?' I could imagine him driving around on the wrong side of the road in the UK, going around in big, giant traveling circles in Paris, on the autobahn in Germany, dealing with the motor scooters in Italy, trying to figure out road signs in Japan," he said.^[3]
In 2009, Disney registered several domain names in relation to the title World Grand Prix.^[4]
Originally it was announced that Randy Newman would return to score the film^[5], but it was later revealed that he had been replaced by fellow Pixar collaborator Michael Giacchino.^[6]

 

CARS 2

The creative folks over at Pixar are well-renowned for their storytelling chops and tendency to favor originality, but their next animated feature, Cars 2, is a sequel to what is generally considered their weakest (though, commercially, one of their most successful) films released to date.
Disney/Pixar have unveiled a short teaser trailer for Cars 2, along with several pieces of conceptual art that offer a glimpse at some of the non-U.S. locations that will appear in the film.