Though Disney hasn’t announced it officially, it looks increasingly probable “Cars: The Series” will be broadcast on its Disney+ streaming service sometime next year.
Inside the Magic, a Disney fan website, flagged a new entry in the IMDB.com website that stated Corbin Bleu has been tapped to star in the series:
According to Bleu’s IMDB page, he is currently filming Cars: The Series for the Disney+ streaming platform. Bleu is listed as Cam Spinner, a character who briefly appeared in Cars 3. The World of Cars Drive-In Fandom wiki features this description of the Pixar character: “[he] is a racing stock car of Piston Cup high-tech next-generation cars. He has a blue livery, with white stripes on his hood, spoiler, roof and side backs and racing number 31 painted on his roof and doors. He has the Lightyear racing tires. He has blue eyes.“
Inside the Magic also reported the IMDB page listed a 2021 debut for the series and several other actors who will play roles, including Larry the Cable Guy reprising his role as Mater.
Notably, original “Cars” actor Owen Wilson isn’t listed as replaying his role as Lightning McQueen. That goes instead to Keith Ferguson.
Speculation that Disney would produce a new “Cars” series for its streaming service has percolated for about a year. Autoweek reported rumors about a TV show, as did this Disney+ observer.
Michael Wallis, who portrayed the Sheriff of Radiator Springs in the three “Cars” films and several shorts, said in an email Tuesday he had not been contacted about reprising his role for a television series.
It could mean he’ll be contacted later, or perhaps Disney has someone else in mind as it did with Wilson.
Disney is motivated to use its streaming service more, as it gained a surprising 10 million subscribers less than 24 hours after its launch last November.
The original Disney-Pixar “Cars” animated movie in 2006 grossed more than $400 million worldwide and generated more than $1 billion in merchandise. The latter figure is by far the largest of any Pixar franchise.
“Cars” also spawned a new surge of Route 66 travelers, as many people and places along the Mother Road proved to be inspirations for the film. “Cars”-related tourism continues to be strong to this day.
(Screen shot from the “Cars” movie teaser trailer)