 |
| Concept artwork by Noah Klocek (high-res art via Pixar Planet France) |
If there's one thing Pixar films tackle well, it's the inevitability of aging that we all must face. From the question of immortality in Toy Story 2, to the more on-the-nose references in Up, Cars 3 is set to follow a similar thread as Lightning McQueen is no longer the hot-shot rookie he once was (sneak peak via USA Today). As technology continues to permeate the racing world, McQueen seeks the advice of the a new trainer, Cruz Ramirez (a sleek Hispanic female racer) to help him learn some new tricks (similar to how Doc Hudson taught McQueen how to overcome the challenge of racing on dirt in the first Cars film).
Brian Fee (Cars 3 Director) says, “Think of where he’d be in his career now in real time — (McQueen) is not an old man, but he's one of the older cars on the circuit with new rookies coming in. People start to wonder and ask when he might retire.” The conversation of McQueen's retirement status comes into focus after he gets badly beaten in a race by the new rookie sensation, Jackson Storm. After the loss, McQueen starts training with Ramirez in the off-season to prepare for the crème de la crème race, the Florida 500.
 |
| Cruz Ramirez & Lightning McQueen concept art by Noah Klocek |