"Cars 3" will feature a much older Lightning McQueen as well as several young, hotshot racers reminiscent of how McQueen was back in the first film. One of these new characters is the main villain, known as Jackson Storm.
The teaser trailer released back in November showed McQueen crashing in the middle of a race, further indicating that he is no longer the top-notch racer he once was. McQueen is now at the point in his life where he realizes that he may not be able to do what he loves forever, director Brian Fee elaborated in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
McQueen's age, and the difference between the old era and the new, is further exaggerated with Jackson Storm, who is voiced by Armie Hammer. Fee revealed that Storm is a character who was born with a silver spoon and represents the new, technologically advanced era.
"He thinks the world is his. He's taking over. He's owed it," Fee explained. "He thinks the future of racing and the high-tech ways they train and what they can do means they're taking the sport to a new level, and the older guys had their day, and it's done, and they have no place in the future of racing."
Despite this, McQueen still has hope with the arrival of his young coach, Cruz Ramirez. The character is voiced by Cristela Alonzo and while she is as young as Storm she is a big fan of McQueen. Fee further explains that she is optimistic and will do what she can to help him.
The film's plot will revolve around the struggle between the old and the new. While the film focuses on a sense of mortality and maturity, similar to "Toys 3," the movie is not necessarily the end of the "Cars" franchise. Fee teased that this could just be the beginning of McQueen's story.
Actor Owen Wilson will reprise his role as McQueen. Hammer landed the role of voicing Storm due to his performance as the Winklevoss twins from "The Social Network," Cinema Blend reported.
"Cars 3" releases on June 16. The Jackson Storm teaser can be viewed below: