In honour of Lightning McQueen Day (9/5, the race car’s number), Disney+ has released a series of teasers for the upcoming launch of Cars on the Road, an original series. Since Cars 3, in 2017, there hasn’t been a big plot arc revolving around McQueen (Owen Wilson) and Mater (Larry the Cable Guy). McQueen and Mater take a cross-country road journey to the east of Radiator Springs to attend Mater’s sister’s wedding, and the nine episodes of the programme will chronicle their travels. Disney released the opening credits sequence to get us revved up for the series debut, which incorporates a fun country tune and previews the challenges Lightning McQueen and Mater will face as they hit the road.
The opening montage, presented in the form of a pop-up booklet, explains that the two vehicles will visit tourist hotspots such as “the world’s largest lugnut.” From the demolition derby-style violence of Mad Max: Fury Road’s vehicle clashes to the “Cretaceous Gardens” referencing the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World franchises (with dinosaur cars, of course), the short promises a wide range of films that will be referenced throughout the series.
Disney+ has released a clip from the third episode of the show, titled “Salt Fever,” in addition to the opening titles sequence.
In this episode, Mater acquires a set of aviation equipment that will allow him to exceed the speed of sound. After reaching 175 miles per hour, Lightning McQueen, understandably concerned for his teammates’ safety, tries to slow him down. However, Mater can’t be held back once she gets moving. Lighting McQueen and Mater will be the focus of Steve Purcell, Bobby Podesta, and Brian Fee’s nine-episode Cars on the Road. Purcell authored and co-directed Brave, Podesta developed the script for certain episodes of Mater’s Tall Tales, and Fee is the director of Cars 3. Each director is responsible for three episodes.
All of the season’s nine episodes were written by Purcell as well. On Disney+ Day, September 8, the streaming service will unveil its newest original film, Cars on the Road. This year, the streaming service added a number of new episodes, documentaries, and specials, as well as the highly anticipated live-action Pinocchio starring Tom Hanks and the streaming debut of superhero box-office sensation Thor: Love and Thunder.