If you watched the Cars 2 teaser trailer when we posted it the other day, you may have noticed one of the voices sounded suspiciously like Michael Caine. Well that’s because it was, even though at the time Disney/Pixar hadn’t yet officially announced he’d even be in the movie.
Now the studio has released more info about the actors who’ll be providing voices for new characters in next year’s sequel, as well as come other into. Here’s what Disney/Picar had to say: ‘Joining the voice cast are Michael Caine (Inception, Dark Knight) as seasoned spy Finn McMissile, Emily Mortimer (Shutter Island, Harry Brown) as spy-in-training Holley Shiftwell, Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter films) as spy jet Siddeley, Joe Mantegna (TVs Criminal Minds) as Grem, Peter Jacobson (TVs House M.D.) as Acer, and Thomas Kretschmann (King Kong, The Young Victoria) as Professor Z. Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy return as the voices of Lightning McQueen and Mater.
“The story of Cars 2′ was sparked by the idea of taking Lightning McQueen and Mater overseas,” said John Lasseter, who returns to the driver’s seat as the director of “Cars 2,” the follow-up to his 2006 Golden Globe®-winning “Cars.” “Lighting McQueen is invited to compete in the World Grand Prix to race against the fastest cars in the world in three fantastic locations: Japan, Italy and the U.K. Of course Mater, who has never left Radiator Springs, is completely out of place in these iconic international cultures, which leads to hilarious comedic moments.
“But the World Grand Prix, Lasseter continues, is just the setting for our real story: Mater is unknowingly embroiled in a case of international espionage! ‘Cars 2’ is also a full-on spy movie with state-of-the-art gadgets, thrilling action and a cast of new and exciting characters like British agents Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell, and great car villains. It’s totally different and so much fun.”
I started movies playing Harry Palmer in The Ipcress File, says Caine. Now as a grandfather, I have become Finn McMissile in Cars 2another spy in a great seriesits wonderful for my grandchildren and me.
The new cars join returning cast members Bonnie Hunt, Tony Shalhoub and Cheech Marin. Cars, originally released on June 9, 2006, 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.
Cars 2, which opens in UK screens on July 22, 2011, marks Disney/Pixars 12th feature-length animated film and will be released as Pixar Animation Studios celebrates its 25th Anniversary next year. The Studio, founded in 1986, has earned 26 Academy Awards®, six Golden Globes®. To date, its 11 feature films have grossed more than $6.5 billion at the worldwide box office.’