Every family has one: the sibling who is always just a little bit behind the curve when it comes to getting his life together. For sisters Liz (Emily Mortimer), Miranda (Elizabeth Banks) and Natalie (Zooey Deschanel), that person is their perennially upbeat brother Ned (Paul Rudd), an erstwhile organic farmer whose willingness to rely on the honesty of mankind is a less-than-optimum strategy for a tidy, trouble-free existence. Ned may be utterly lacking in common sense, but he is their brother and so, after his girlfriend dumps him and boots him off the farm, his sisters once again come to his rescue. As Liz, Miranda and Natalie each take a turn at housing Ned, their brother’s unfailing commitment to honesty creates more than a few messes in their comfortable routines. But as each of their lives begins to unravel, Ned’s family comes to realize that maybe, in believing and trusting the people around him; Ned isn’t such an idiot after all.
Starring Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer, Rashida Jones, Steve Coogan, Hugh Dancy, Kathryn Hahn, Shirley Knight, Janet Montgomeryand Adam Scott, OUR IDIOT BROTHER will be in theaters August 26, 2011.
Listen in as director John Lasseter and actors Owen Wilson, Emily Mortimer, John Turturro, Joe Mantegna, Michael Caine and Larry the Cable Guy talk about taking Lightning McQueen, Mater and the gang to the World Grand Prix in this new CARS 2featurette.
ABOUT THE MOVIE
Star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places in “Cars 2” when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Mater finds himself torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret mission orchestrated by master British super spy Finn McMissile (voice of Michael Caine) and the stunning rookie field spy Holley Shiftwell (voice of Emily Mortimer). Mater’s action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. The fast-paced fun includes a colorful new all-car cast, complete with menacing villains and international racing competitors.
John Lasseter returns to the driver’s seat to direct this follow-up to his 2006 Golden Globe®-winning “Cars.” “Cars 2” is co-directed by Brad Lewis, producer of the Oscar®-winning film “Ratatouille,” and produced by visual effects industry veteran Denise Ream (associate producer, “Up”; visual effects executive producer, “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith”). The film hits the track on June 24, 2011, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D in select theaters.
Mater is known for tall tales, superior backwards driving, tractor tipping and uncompromising loyalty.
He’s also a secret agent… though unwittingly.
“Cars 2” sends the affable tow truck overseas, along with his best buddy Lightning McQueen, who’s competing in the first-ever World Grand Prix – a race through Japan, Italy and the U.K. to determine who is the world’s fastest car.
Mater’s intentions are good. He wants to lend a helping tire to Lightning and be there to see his best friend win the race and get the glory. Never having been overseas, Mater is a bit naïve to life outside Radiator Springs.
Then he meets Holley Shiftwell. She’s sleek, smart and sophisticated, and she’s interested in him! Mater is smitten with this rookie field spy who’s been sent to rendezvous with an American agent. Her colleague, master British spy Finn McMissile, is the best in the business with all the gadgets and savvy moves to prove it, but even he’s impressed when he meets Mater and finds his rusty undercover disguise particularly admirable.
Indeed, Mater fuels this fast-paced tale of international espionage, but it was Finn McMissile who sparked the story more than five years ago.
A SPY IS BORN
Disney•Pixar’s 2006 release “Cars” featured a blossoming romance between Lightning McQueen and Sally. Filmmakers storyboarded a date scene at a drive-in theater and pondered what movie might be playing. “I love spy movies,” says director John Lasseter, “and I thought it would be so much fun to see what a spy movie would look like in the car world. We came up with this character named Finn McMissile, who was going to be starring in this little movie-within-a-movie.”
Instead, says Lasseter, Lightning and Sally went on the picturesque drive on Route 66. “I never forgot the idea of Finn McMissile and the spy movie,” adds Lasseter. “I thought, ‘There’s a lot of potential there.’”
“Cars 2” took off with vast, global backdrops and an unprecedented multi-location race. But, says Lasseter, “That’s just the setting, the real story is this spy conspiracy.”
Finn McMissile evolved, of course. “He’s a British supercar,” says Jay Ward, art manager for “Cars” and now the “Cars” franchise guardian at Pixar Animation Studios, “and he’s a serious agent in the field.”
And serious agents come with some really serious gadgetry. Finn McMissile has a missile launcher in one headlight, and sports a spy cam in the other. He’s armed with deployable machine guns and an undercarriage-mounted quad harpoon gun, plus surveillance probes, grappling hooks and a rear turn signal oil blaster. His side mirrors feature digital read-outs and a deployable glass-cutter and his front wheel hub is equipped with a magnetic explosives launcher. He has several modes of transportation: drive, hydrofoil for overseas transportation and submarine mode for underwater escapes. And there’s always his roof-deployed holographic disguise emitter for particularly sticky situations. “He has steel magnets on his wheels so he can climb up the side of a steel wall,” adds Ward. “He’s a really cool car.”
But if the audience is in the market for a sixties spy car with Finn’s sharp, British looks—a car that gives new meaning to “fully loaded”—they’re out of luck. “He’s an in-house design,” says Ward. “We looked for British cars with fins, and guess what? They didn’t put a lot of fins on their cars.”
The 1958 Peerless, a British sports car, did feature tailfins, which served as partial inspiration, but the team studied a number of cars—British cars, Italian cars. “We wanted him to be a really elegantly designed English sportscar from the sixties,” says character art director Jay Shuster. “We did this really deep search into that kind of car from that era. We took everything from all the cars we love and baked it into Finn.”
Meanwhile, Holley Shiftwell is assertive, yet refined—and she’s fresh out of the academy. “She’s a really smart, up-and-coming British agent who hasn’t spent a lot of time in the field,” says producer Denise Ream.
“She’s basically a logistics agent,” adds Ward. “She’s not somebody who’s usually out there beating up the bad guys. But in this film, she gets pulled into that world for the first time.”
Holley is sharp and capable, with expertise in computers and logistics. She’s also young, cool and quite fetching (just ask Mater). Like Finn McMissile, she owes her good looks to the team at Pixar who created her design in house. “Holley developed really quickly,” says Shuster. “I came in on a Sunday afternoon and was doodling and sketching based on what John said he’d like Holley to look like. She’s new-school. I referenced the modern supercar from all the makes of the world. There’s a whole new breed of supercar that all these little private manufacturers are putting out in limited runs. I drew this sketch and the next day John saw it and said, ‘Yeah, that’s it.’”
Of course, Holley, too, comes well equipped with state-of-the-art mechanisms, including headlight cameras, a concealed gun and electro-shock device and a telescoping utility arm. “She can fly, actually,” says Shuster. “She’s got wings that protrude from her rocker panels and her rear deck lid becomes a horizontal stabilizer of a rear wing that has a jet intake. She’s got afterburners that appear in her exhaust.”
The spy business is a serious one. Missions pop up around the world, so a good transportation system is key, even for the four-wheeled spies in “Cars 2.” With twin jet engines and a speed of mach 1, Siddeley the spy jet can get them where they need to go faster than anyone—and he can do it completely undetected with cutting-edge cloaking and stealth technologies.
The question remains: is Mater a spy sporting the best disguise Britain’s secret agents have ever encountered?
That’s classified, of course.
Michael Caine lends his voice to Finn McMissile, Emily Mortimer is the voice of Holley Shiftwell, Jason Isaacs voices Siddeley, and both Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy once again brings Lightning McQueen and Mater, respectively, to life.
ABOUT THE MOVIE
Star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places in “Cars 2” when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Mater finds himself torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret mission orchestrated by master British super spy Finn McMissile (voice of Michael Caine) and the stunning rookie field spy Holley Shiftwell (voice of Emily Mortimer). Mater’s action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. The fast-paced fun includes a colorful new all-car cast, complete with menacing villains and international racing competitors.
John Lasseter returns to the driver’s seat to direct this follow-up to his 2006 Golden Globe®-winning “Cars.” “Cars 2” is co-directed by Brad Lewis, producer of the Oscar®-winning film “Ratatouille,” and produced by visual effects industry veteran Denise Ream (associate producer, “Up”; visual effects executive producer, “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith”). The film hits the track on June 24, 2011, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D in select theaters.
· John Lasseter made his feature film directing debut with “Toy Story” in 1995. He has since directed such Disney•Pixar classics as “A Bug’s Life,” “Toy Story 2” and “Cars” and served as executive producer of all other Pixar films to date. He is currently the chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios and principal creative advisor of Walt Disney Imagineering. · “Cars 2” is the 12th feature-length animated film from Pixar Animation Studios (its first 11 have earned $6.5 billion at the global box office). Pixar, which has earned 29 Academy Awards® and seven Golden Globes®, celebrates its 25th Anniversary in 2011. · “Cars” originally released on June 9, 2006, and grossed nearly $462 million worldwide. It was nominated for two Oscars® and one Golden Globe®, winning the first ever Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film.
ABOUT THE MOVIE
Star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places in “Cars 2” when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Mater finds himself torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret mission orchestrated by master British super spy Finn McMissile (voice of Michael Caine) and the stunning rookie field spy Holley Shiftwell (voice of Emily Mortimer). Mater’s action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. The fast-paced fun includes a colorful new all-car cast, complete with menacing villains and international racing competitors.
John Lasseter returns to the driver’s seat to direct this follow-up to his 2006 Golden Globe®-winning “Cars.” “Cars 2” is co-directed by Brad Lewis, producer of the Oscar®-winning film “Ratatouille,” and produced by visual effects industry veteran Denise Ream (associate producer, “Up”; visual effects executive producer, “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith”). The film hits the track on June 24, 2011, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D in select theaters.
Being the Anglophile (read – lover of all things British), may I present her Majesty The Queen and the rest of the Royal Family of automobiles from CARS 2. What with the big wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on Friday April 29th, as my English sis would say, these new photos are “Bloody marvellous.” A cuppa PG Tips all around!
The Queen (voice of Vanessa Redgrave)
With the final stage of the World Grand Prix racing through the historic streets of London, England, the Queen is quietly elated she was invited to preside over the finish line by Sir Miles Axlerod. Painted in shades of the most royal blues and never without her jeweled crown, the Queen is the definition of decorum and regality, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t enjoy a bit of first-rate competition! Sidenote – Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday is this Thursday, April 21st.
Prince Wheeliam
Prince Wheeliam of England is an avid racing fan. He can’t believe his luck that the final race of the one-of-a-kind World Grand Prix is happening on the streets of London. Though he must remain impartial when by his grandmother the Queen’s side, he is privately rooting for his fellow Brits Lewis Hamilton and Nigel Gearsley to cross the finish line first.
Sgt. Highgear
Sgt. Highgear is a member of the regiment assigned to London’s landmark Buckingham Palace. With a recognizable tall bearskin cap atop his scarlet body, he stands guard at his sentry box with pride and conviction.
Topper Deckington III
Topper Deckington III is a classic British double-decker bus in a vivid shade of red who relishes in his daily Killswitch route through London’s famous bustling Petroldilly Circus.
Chauncy Fares
No one knows the sites, streets or shortcuts of London better than the jovial Chauncy Fares, a quintessential London black cab.
Synopsis:
Star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places in CARS 2 when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Mater finds himself torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret mission orchestrated by master British super spy Finn McMissile (voice of Michael Caine) and the stunning rookie field spy Holley Shiftwell (voice of Emily Mortimer). Mater’s action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. The fast-paced fun includes a colorful new all-car cast, complete with menacing villains and international racing competitors.
CARS 2 features the voice talents of Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Bonnie Hunt, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin, Jason Isaacs, Joe Mantegna, Peter Jacobson, Thomas Kretschmann, Guido Quaroni, Lloyd Sherr, Paul Dooley, John Ratzenberger, Jenifer Lewis, Michael Wallis, Katherine Helmond, John Turturro, Franco Nero, Vanessa Redgrave, Eddie Izzard, Bruce Campbell, Michel Michelis, Jeff Gordon, Darrell Waltrip, Lewis Hamilton, and David Hobbs.
CARS 2 is co-directed by Brad Lewis, producer of the Oscar®-winning film RATATOUILLE, and produced by visual effects industry veteran Denise Ream (associate producer, UP ; visual effects executive producer, STAR WARS: EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH.
CARS 2 hits the track on June 24, 2011 and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D in select theaters.
Visit the film’s official site here, like it on Facebook here and follow it on Twitter here.
As part of Disney-Pixar’s special CARS 2 ‘Showroom Turntable’ series, Great Britain’s representative Lewis Hamilton gets his own special rollout today. Plus, check out worldwide racing luminary turned racing announcer: David Hobbscap.
Yesterday we showed you photos of geared up fans as they watched Lightning McQueen, Mater and Finn McMissile racing into the Museum of Transportation and Ronnie’s 20 Cine as a part of State Farm’s CARS 2 “AGENTS ON A MISSION” Multi-City Tour.
Lewis Hamilton (voice of Lewis Hamilton)
Lewis Hamilton, the famously sleek and seriously fast #2 Grand Touring Sports champion, has been a determined and winning racer for nearly his entire young life. Like all youngster cars, Lewis spent his childhood going to school, taking karate lessons and winning the British Karting Championship by the age of 10. Today, the celebrated native Brit continues to bring an exceptional work ethic and soft-spoken confidence to the race course where his extraordinary achievements speak for themselves via a spotless track record on the junior and professional circuits. With his striking metallic black and yellow paint scheme, Lewis will represent Great Britain at the World Grand Prix. His car also carries the flag of Grenada, home to his family who emigrated to Britain in the 1950s. His unrivaled technical skills, natural speed ability and cool, karate-inspired attitude make him a powerful contender too.
David Hobbscap (voice of David Hobbs)
As a handsome forest green 1963 Jaguar Coombs Lightweight E-Type, David Hobbscap, originally from Royal Leamington Spa, England, is a worldwide racing luminary. His 30-year career in professional racing spans the globe and all types of motorsports. Now David shares that priceless knowledge as an announcer, where he’s also well known for providing comic relief during race broadcasts. A former champion with 20 starts at 24 Hours of Le Mans, his storytelling comes from personal experience. Anything but your ordinary television sportscaster, David can’t wait to enlighten and entertain the World Grand Prix audiences.
Star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places in “Cars 2” when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Mater finds himself torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret mission orchestrated by master British super spy Finn McMissile (voice of Michael Caine) and the stunning rookie field spy Holley Shiftwell (voice of Emily Mortimer). Mater’s action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. The fast-paced fun includes a colorful new all-car cast, complete with menacing villains and international racing competitors.
CARS 2 features the voice talents of Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Bonnie Hunt, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin, Jason Isaacs, Joe Mantegna, Peter Jacobson, Thomas Kretschmann, Guido Quaroni, Lloyd Sherr, Paul Dooley, John Ratzenberger, Jenifer Lewis, Michael Wallis, Katherine Helmond, John Turturro, Franco Nero, Vanessa Redgrave, Eddie Izzard, Bruce Campbell, Michel Michelis, Jeff Gordon, Darrell Waltrip, Lewis Hamilton, David Hobbs.
John Lasseter returns to the driver’s seat to direct this follow-up to his 2006 Golden Globe®-winning “Cars.” “Cars 2” is co-directed by Brad Lewis, producer of the Oscar®-winning film “Ratatouille,” and produced by visual effects industry veteran Denise Ream (associate producer, “Up”; visual effects executive producer, “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith”). The film hits the track on June 24, 2011, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D in select theaters.
Visit the film’s official site here, like it on Facebook here and follow it on Twitter here.
Introducing two of the newest racecars to enter the track for CARS 2, Jeff Gorvette and Darrell Cartrip!
Jeff Gorvette (voice of Jeff Gordon)
Jeff Gorvette is one of the greatest American racecars alive today. Donning the stars and stripes of his country’s flag, the #24 Corvette C6.R has proven his ability to succeed on the big ovals and the road courses of the Grand Touring Sports circuits. Having moved from his hometown of Vallejo, California to Indiana to be closer to the racing world, Gorvette’s ability to accelerate at such a young age has turned hoods wherever he competes. His championships and number of victories are unmatched, making him a respected competitor—and legitimate threat—at the World Grand Prix.
Darrell Cartrip is a legendary multi-Piston Cup champion turned beloved racing announcer. The Kentucky-born #17 Chevrolet Monte Carlo is known for his wild color commentary, delighting Piston Cup fans with his humor, charisma and signature catch phrases—”Boogity, Boogity, Boogity! Let’s go racin’ boys!” He’s spent years on the track, in the pits and in the grease, and he’ll tell you all about it. This American Southern gentleman knows what it takes to win, and plans to bring that fervent expertise to calling the World Grand Prix.
Star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places in CARS 2 when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Mater finds himself torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret mission orchestrated by master British super spy Finn McMissile (voice of Michael Caine) and the stunning spy-in-training Holley Shiftwell (voice of Emily Mortimer). Mater’s action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. The fast-paced fun includes a colorful new all-car cast, complete with menacing villains and international racing competitors.
CARS 2 is co-directed by Brad Lewis, producer of the Oscar®-winning film RATATOUILLE, and produced by visual effects industry veteran Denise Ream (associate producer, UP ; visual effects executive producer, STAR WARS: EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH.
CARS 2 hits the track on June 24, 2011 and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D in select theaters.
Visit the film’s official site here, like it on Facebook here and follow it on Twitter here.
Disney revved its engines and kicked off American International Toy Fair today as it unveiled the all new Disney·Pixar Cars 2 toy line of more than 300 toys before a capacity crowd of toy industry insiders and members of D23, Disney’s official fan community.
Academy Award®-winning actor Michael Caine, voice of the charming and eloquent new Cars 2 British agent Finn McMissile and actress Emily Mortimer, voice of his spy-in-training Holley Shiftwell, were on hand for a panel discussion and were presented with custom-built toys celebrating their Cars 2 characters.
From toys that interact, speak, and climb up walls to new collectable die-cast and buildable play sets, the new Cars line-up is packed with creativity and innovation.
The hottest toys at Toy Fair and this year’s most anticipated, new Cars toys unveiled at the event included: Mattel’s Lightning McQueen Alive, The LEGO Group’s Spy Jet Escape, and Spin Master’s Zero Gravity Finn McMissile radio control vehicle. The event culminated with a reception showcasing the hundreds of new toys that will release this May and into the holiday season, plus a sneak peek at the upcoming multi-platform Cars 2: The Video Game and a first look at a life-size Finn McMissile car. Cars 2 hits the track June 24 and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and in IMAX® 3D in select theaters.
In less than five years since the film’s release in 2006, the Cars franchise has generated global retail sales of more than $8 billion — making it among Disney’s top franchises and quickly establishing itself as a true classic. This momentum will go into high gear as Cars 2 becomes what Disney Consumer Products expects to be its largest licensed film merchandise program ever.
The program is anchored by an array of innovative toys featuring the film’s World Grand Prix race and international espionage themes. Cars 2 will also be supported with unprecedented product lines from stationery, apparel and accessories to home décor, books, and food, health and beauty, and an exclusive range from Disney Store and DisneyStore.com.
Returning to the driver’s seat to direct Cars 2, John Lasseter, surprised guests via a special videotaped greeting and revealed John Turturro as the voice of new character and Lightning McQueen rival, Francesco Bernoulli. “The idea for Cars 2 began when I was traveling around the world doing publicity for Cars. I found myself looking out at these amazing cities and imagining, ‘what would Mater do?’ I couldn’t help but laugh thinking about Mater lost in the maze of Tokyo streets, driving on the wrong side of the road in England or navigating the gigantic roundabouts in Paris,” Lasseter said. “I’m sure fans and collectors will be as thrilled as I was to see these new adventures come to life in this exciting toy line, which features some of the most amazing technology out there.”
At the event, Disney also revealed two additional new Cars 2 characters: Miles Axlerod, voiced by the talented Eddie Izzard, is a former oil baron who has sold off his fortune, converted himself into an electric vehicle and devoted his life to finding the renewable, clean-burning energy source of the future — he’s also the car behind the World Grand Prix; and Nigel Gearsley, an Aston Martin DB9R racer bearing #9. His cool British refinement makes him an imposing presence on the World Grand Prix courses.
With more than 200 million Cars die-cast vehicles sold worldwide to date, innovation was critical to keep the new Cars toy line fresh. Disney challenged the best in the toy industry including Mattel, The LEGO Group, Spin Master and Hasbro to deliver the next generation of Cars toys. The resulting line includes new innovations such as Lightning McQueen Alive which was unveiled at the event and is the first toy of its kind to utilize touch sensors and cutting-edge micro technology to capture the look, sound, moves and animated personality of everyone’s favorite red racer with never-before-seen features in a 1:55 scale car.
“The first Cars film has been a phenomenon because kids love the characters and racing. Cars 2 not only has great racing, but it also has a spy twist that is pure toy bliss,” said Vince Klaseus, senior vice president of Global Toys, Disney Consumer Products. “Cars 2 is our largest toy line yet with more 300 new toys and it offers something for everyone — we have cars that can be dramatically customized in wild and expressive ways, cars that transform and even cars that climb walls.”
Mattel will introduce more than 150 toys including Lightning McQueen Alive. Fans will be in awe to see Lightning McQueen’s big personality captured in a small package as he drives around by himself — both forward and backward and in complete 360s, moves his eyes, shrugs his shoulders and moves his life-like mouth to speak signature phrases voiced by actor Owen Wilson (SRP $59.99, available Fall 2011; on pre-sale now at http://www.mattycollector.com/LightningMcQueen). Plus, fans will enjoy a collection of more than 70 new collectible die-cast cars (SRP $3.99 – $9.99, available May 2011).
The LEGO Group will introduce its first full line of Cars toys consisting of 20 versatile and action-packed play sets recreating key scenes from the film — play sets so detailed that some come with as many as 800 pieces! Among the new line is the Cars 2 Spy Jet Escape, which enables fans to recreate one of the film’s most exciting and explosive scenes featuring Finn McMissile, Holley Shiftwell and Mater (SRP $49.99, available May 2011).
Spin Master will introduce a collection of over a dozen toys including RC vehicles featuring Zero Gravity technology, such as the Zero Gravity Finn McMissile vehicle. Fans can bring this British spy home for hours of intriguing play as Finn McMissile zips across the floor, and front wheels allow it to transition up the wall to continue the adventure (SRP $34.99 available May 2011).
Other notable products include: Hasbro classic board games with a twist such as Cars 2 Monopoly with a round board where players can race Lightning McQueen instead of rolling the dice; Ridemakerz which will deliver a new Cars customizing experience giving fans the thrill of a ride as they build their own vehicle; and the new Disney·Pixar Cars Wood Collection from Toys”R”Us, Disney’s first Cars-inspired wooden toy line.
Disney Interactive Studios also unveiled Cars 2: The Video Game, allowing Toy Fair guests the first test drive in the Cars universe, complete with a brand new international spy theme inspired by the animated feature film. Cars 2: The Video Game will feature an array of beloved Cars characters competing in action-packed spy adventures, as well as world-class racing.
About the Cars Franchise Released in 2006, Disney·Pixar’s feature film Cars has become a leading boys’ franchise generating an impressive $2 billion in annual global retail sales for a total of $8B to date. Winner of the Golden Globe® for Best Animated Feature, Cars went on to gross $462 million in global box office sales. It’s supported across The Walt Disney Company through films including the highly anticipated release of Cars 2 in Disney Digital 3D, consumer products, live theater productions, park attractions including Cars Land planned for launch in 2012, music, a web site http://www.disney.com/cars, TV including the popular series of short form content: Cars Toons, home entertainment, video games — including Cars and the upcoming June release of Cars 2: The Video Game supporting all major platforms, a virtual world http://www.WorldofCars.com, and books — with more than 75 new titles releasing throughout 2011 domestically, in addition to more titles on digital books and mobile applications.
About Cars 2: The Video Game Slated for release this summer, Cars 2: The Video Game lets players jump into the Cars 2 universe with some of their favorite Cars personalities such as Mater, Lightning McQueen and the newly introduced Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell in exotic locations around the globe. Fans can train to become world-class spies at the international training center for CHROME (Command Headquarters for Recon Operations and Motorized Espionage) and take on dangerous missions, compete to become the fastest racecar in the world, or use their spy skills in exciting, action-packed combat racing and battle arenas. Players can race against friends and family in either single or multiplayer modes with up to four players to unlock challenging new tracks, characters, events and thrilling spy missions. Please visit http://Disney.com/CarsVideogame for more information.
About Disney·Pixar’s Cars 2: Star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places in Cars 2 when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Mater finds himself torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret mission orchestrated by master British super spy Finn McMissile (voice of Michael Caine) and the stunning spy-in-training Holley Shiftwell (voice of Emily Mortimer). Mater’s action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. The fast-paced fun includes a colorful new all-car cast, complete with menacing villains and international racing competitors.
John Lasseter returns to the driver’s seat to direct this follow-up to his 2006 Golden Globe®-winning Cars. Cars 2 is co-directed by Brad Lewis, producer of the Oscar®-winning film Ratatouille, and produced by visual effects industry veteran Denise Ream (associate producer, Up; visual effects executive producer, Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith). The film hits the track on June 24, 2011 and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D in select theaters.
About Disney Consumer Products Disney Consumer Products (DCP) is the business segment of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) that extends the Disney brand to merchandise ranging from apparel, toys, home décor and books and magazines to foods and beverages, stationery, electronics and fine art. This is accomplished through DCP’s various lines of business, which include: Disney Toys, Disney Fashion & Home, Disney Food, Health & Beauty, and Disney Stationery. Other businesses involved in Disney’s consumer products sales are Disney Publishing Worldwide, the world’s largest publisher of children’s books and magazines, and www.DisneyStore.com, the company’s official shopping portal. The Disney Stores retail chain, which debuted in 1987, is owned and operated by Disney in North America and Europe. The Disney Stores chain in Japan is operated under a license agreement with Disney. For more information, please visit Disney Consumer Products or follow us at www.YouTube.com/DisneyLiving, www.Facebook.com/DisneyLiving and www.Twitter.com/DisneyLiving.
Disney/Pixar has released these new photos from CARS 2. John Lasseter returns to the driver’s seat to direct this follow-up to his 2006 Golden Globe®-winning CARS. Have a look below at the new promo for Lightning McQueen – Four-time Piston Cup winner, hotshot racer and souped up for the international raceway.
Now meet the rest of Lightning’s cohorts.
Radiator Springs resident hippie Fillmore is an easy-going, peace-loving 1960s Volkswagen van. And as his friend and neighbor Sarge likes to say, “once a hippie, always a hippie.” At his popular shop Fillmore’s Organic Fuel, Fillmore brews his own fuel, which he sells with Bohemian accessories like tie-dyed mud flaps. But when he learns that the World Grand Prix will be run exclusively on the alternative fuel Allinol, Fillmore closes up shop and signs on as the fuel expert for Team Lightning McQueen.
Radiator Springs resident Luigi is a big-hearted, gregarious and excitable Italian Fiat 500. A tire virtuoso and owner of Luigi’s Casa Della Tires, he and his sidekick Guido join Lightning and Mater as members of Team Lightning McQueen for the World Grand Prix. Luigi is also an aficionado and fanatic for all things Italian, and is particularly enchanted with Ferrari race cars. When the competition takes the team to his hometown of Porto Corsa, Italy, Luigi is over the moon to introduce the Radiator Springs crew to his charming village and the wonderful ways of Italy. His family welcomes the gang from Radiator Springs in a big, passionate Italian way: Amore!
Guido, the little Italian forklift, is the backbone of Casa Della Tires. He’s Luigi’s assistant and best friend, and together they are the biggest Ferrari racing fans in Carburetor County. A car of few English words other than “pit stop,” Guido is a force to be reckoned with when he’s changing tires in the pits during a race. Joining Team Lightning McQueen for the World Grand Prix, Guido will get to show off his turbo-charged, pedal-to-the-metal pit stops on the global stage … and maybe, just maybe, he’ll see some Ferraris!
Green Army Jeep Sarge is a patriotic veteran who runs the Radiator Springs Army surplus store, Sarge’s Surplus Hut. Sarge’s no-nonsense attitude often leads to bickering with his hippie friend, neighbor and polar opposite, Fillmore. Despite their differences, the two are almost inseparable – even throughout their world travels. A security specialist with military connections around the globe, Sarge joins Lightning and Mater at the World Grand Prix as a member of Team Lightning McQueen.
Mack is Lightning McQueen’s trusted long-haul driver, crisscrossing the country from race to race, always with a smile on his grill. After dropping Lightning off in Radiator Springs with his fourth Piston Cup championship trophy, Mack sets off with the rest of the pit crew for a well-deserved vacation. Who knew that Lightning would end up jetting off to a race around the globe in the World Grand Prix?
Synopsis:
Star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places in “Cars 2″ when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Mater finds himself torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret mission orchestrated by master British super spy Finn McMissile (voice of Michael Caine) and the stunning spy-in-training Holley Shiftwell (voice of Emily Mortimer). Mater’s action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. The fast-paced fun includes a colorful new all-car cast, complete with menacing villains and international racing competitors.
CARS 2 is co-directed by Brad Lewis, producer of the Oscar®-winning film “Ratatouille,” and produced by visual effects industry veteran Denise Ream (associate producer, UP ; visual effects executive producer,“Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith”.
CARS 2 hits the track on June 24, 2011 and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D in select theaters.
Visit the film’s official site here, like it on Facebook here and follow it on Twitter here.
Oh but wait – there’s more! Check out the new international poster for the film and a 3D version as well.
I have to say of all the anticipated films coming out before the end of 2009, ‘Shutter Island’ has got to be at the top in terms of expectancy. Â The idea of Scorsese doing a period piece about US Marshall in 1945 who goes to a mental institution on an island in the middle of a hurricane to search for a missing murderess just cries out “Must See Now.”
Ropes of Silicon brings to us today this early teaser poster, which was scanned into them by a reader who caught the teaser art in a local newspaper. Â All in all, it’s pretty atmospheric and exactly what I expected to see from the film.
‘Shutter Island’ is set for release on October 2nd and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Max von Sydow, Patricia Clarkson, Emily Mortimer and Jackie Earle Haley.  You can also check out the film’s official site, though there is nothing there, yet.
