How Long Until Cars 3 Is Announced?

GC_cars_3_logo
Image via: The Pixar Wiki

It’s a legitimate (if troll-worthy) question and one that was prompted by a joke tweet from Mike Bastoli stating that Cars 3 had already been announced. Although that tweet was quickly disproved (but not before this blogger jumped the gun in retweeting it), it did give pause for thought; just how long will it be until Cars 3 is announced?

The Facts

The original Cars cost $120 million and raked in about $462 million. Its sequel cost $200 million and brought in about $560 million. These nice grosses aside, it’s reckoned that the franshise as a whole has been worth an estimated $5 billion to Disney.

These we pretty much already know, and a corporation like Disney is highly unlikely to ignore them, especially that last one. Naturally, it has, since the original film came out, gone ahead and created an entire marketing-driven ecosystem for the franchise. There are TV shows, video games and toys that all drive the revenue machine. However, there is also something fairly unique within the Pixar cannon, a spin-off, Planes, that’s destined for cinemas this year.

Overall, Cars remains a remarkably profitable franchise for anyone involved. All the more reason to keep it going as long as possible, right?

Signs Pointing To Yes

Given all the above, a new film is a very likely probability. Assuming demand for merchandise remains at least constant, a new theatrical outing of some kind will be necessary to grow sales in a stock market-meaningful way. Witness all that Toy Story 3 did for that series of films and their related characters and merchandise. Yes, it was billed as a ‘different’ sequel that quasi-completed the tale of Andy and Woody, etc. but it was still a sequel and it still made a ton of money (while leaving the door open for further adventures that have, until now, been of the short variety).

Other indicators that favour more McQueen adventures include the currently-in-production Monsters University and the sequel to Finding Nemo, which although not officially announced has been noted as being worked on by Andrew Stanton; surprising given how early in the process it remains.

Signs Pointing to No

The signs pointing away from a third film are few and far between. Yes, Cars 2 was only the second Pixar sequel to be made, but it was also far from the last. However, at this point only Toy Story has made it into trilogy territory and that was with an attempt at creative wholeness that Cars simply doesn’t have. (Be honest, the world and his dog knew Cars 2 was blatantly commercial in aspirations.) The odds of Cars being given a third, and expensive outing ‘just because’ aren’t overly strong.

Pixar’s slate is also quite full for the next few years with a few original projects slotted in between the sequels. Also working against Cars is the possibility that other Pixar films might be in line for the sequel treatment. Potential suitors include A Bug’s Life, Brave and The Incredibles. (Although this blogger sincerely hopes that one for the latter never sees the light of day.)

The last factor that suggests a ‘no’ is that the franchise is well established at this stage with the toys being a permanent fixture in stores, TV shows on the TV (in reruns), a spin-off in theatrical feature Planes and, the holy grail, areas devoted to the property in the Disney theme parks. With all that in mind, Disney strictly speaking should not need to “jolt” the franchise for a long time to come. A look at how many Disney films from Walt’s time continue to sell is an indication of this.

The Final Answer

Ultimately, without an in-depth look at the financials, it is very hard to say that we will or won’t see another Cars feature film. the head says no but the brain says yes, and on that note, given that it was about 5 years between the originals, I think we can see it being announced within the next 24 months with a release towards the latter end of the decade.

Do you disagree? Let me know in comments!

15 thoughts on “How Long Until Cars 3 Is Announced?”

  1. Well, first of all I really appreciate you having written this, it’s nice to read the pros and cons. And well, as often as the Cars fans have been talking about this topic already, it seems to me as if they would really do it. And in my opinion they really should, there are so many possibilitys! They could, for example put the DeLorean of “Back to the future” in there to travel back in time, or Kitt from “Knight Rider” for having an agent who can’t die or a villain who can’t be killed. McQueen and Sally could plan their wedding but then there suddenly are some attempts on the race car. Finn could fall in love and in the end one finds out she was only using him, she’s the actual villain. They could even create a fantasy movie, with creatures like witches, maybe orks and so on! It would be wasting ideas if they didn’t do Cars 3, for there are such many possibiltities! So in my opinion they really should do it, if they will is another question. But if I was Pixar, I definatly would! 🙂

    1. The best thing to make a Cars 3 , it’s leave all these spy stuff and come back with the original Cars as it was…

  2. Ginger Mc Queen-Carrera

    It is true that I like Cars 1 because it is much more exciting with a message in the film is that” in life, there are things more important than goods victories.” While in Cars 2, there is none, I think. In Cars 2, the story does not follow at all .. Mater becomes the main character (when all the kids want to see Lighting!) We see that race … There are new characters .. It is true that spy stories are put pepper in film, leaving us hanging in the film. But we do not see Sally! Only at the beginning and the end! And when you do it a few main characters of the movie Cars 1? As Mack, Chick Hits, offenders (Boost, DJ, Wingo and Snot Rod)., We see the appearance of Rod Cars 2 in the toilet, but only 2 min after he dies! (Some say n ‘ is not dead and will be seen in Cars 3 ..) You noticed that to ever Lighting and Sally kissing? Infact we do not really know if they like because they never say” I love you” is defined as” a few sweet words This is why I love you time!” Etc.. . I think at the end of Cars 1, they would embrace their reunion if Mater had not appeared with his helicopter. I do not think that will be a difficult task to make cars that kiss in Cars 2 as we can see in Paris, 2 Coccinelles kissing on a bridge. I hope Cars 3 will be completely different from 2 and that we can revisit characters 1 and 2 (Holley, Finn, King, offenders, Chick Hits, Mack ..), why not marriage Lighting and Sally, Mater and Holley that will couple. Lighting and Sally could have a child or children (like me for example) as it ensures Lighting offspring into the world of the race to replace him, could see their parents and you can be their brothers and sisters if they have a new villain would try to destroy McQueen (because everyone knows that Lighting is the race car the fastest in the world) or sabotage races (as we will see our spies and you may even be new), and new races throughout the world. As Rio de Janeiro, New York, Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Sydney ..
    I had a vague idea like that .. I thought to make a Pixar Cars 3 races and this time would be 24 hours du Mans. Good idea, no? We could see old and new riders and they could team up with several countries, for example (depending on the course of the 24h du Mans). Jeff Gorvette could be in the team McQueen example.
    We could have a flashback of the past Lighting (before he starts racing) and Sally (before it arrives in Radiator Spring when she was still a lawyer you) and when they were young to know the relationship they had with their parents. because I have a feeling that Lighting is angry with his parents.We could see the future of their children as well.Lighting could have a new look too.
    If only all our wishes could be realized as the movie Cars 3 last at least 2 hours 30 min and some as Skyfall ^ ^

    I also assume that Cars 2 was a little” a waste of time.” We talk about the new gasoline, Allinol. Etc. .. What is ecological What oil is a fossil fuel. Throughout the film, we did believe in a while all the runners run with their pétroel Serge engines as precise at the end of the film” the oil lobby is the oil lobby!”. Basically to movie gives us no solution compared to new energies. I regret that we did beat around the bush throughout the film .. But hey, it is true that we find a story ..

    There will probably a Cars 3. Because as they say, never two without three! There will therefore probably a trilogy. More Cars is the first or second favorite cartoon children. Then his surprise me that Pixar neglects the 3 component.
    If you want to know their next films are: Monster Inc. 2, Ratouille 2 Brave 2, Dinosaurs, Planes (Planes is inspired by Cars), Nemo 2 .. 2015 or 2016, we have enough to wait ^^

  3. It is true that I like Cars 1 because it is much more exciting with a message in the film is that” in life, there are things more important than goods victories.” While in Cars 2, there is none, I think. In Cars 2, the story does not follow at all .. Mater becomes the main character (when all the kids want to see Lighting!) We see that race … There are new characters .. It is true that spy stories are put pepper in film, leaving us hanging in the film. But we do not see Sally! Only at the beginning and the end! And when you do it a few main characters of the movie Cars 1? As Mack, Chick Hits, offenders (Boost, DJ, Wingo and Snot Rod)., We see the appearance of Rod Cars 2 in the toilet, but only 2 min after he dies! (Some say n ‘ is not dead and will be seen in Cars 3 ..) You noticed that to ever Lighting and Sally kissing? Infact we do not really know if they like because they never say” I love you” is defined as” a few sweet words This is why I love you time!” Etc.. . I think at the end of Cars 1, they would embrace their reunion if Mater had not appeared with his helicopter. I do not think that will be a difficult task to make cars that kiss in Cars 2 as we can see in Paris, 2 Coccinelles kissing on a bridge. I hope Cars 3 will be completely different from 2 and that we can revisit characters 1 and 2 (Holley, Finn, King, offenders, Chick Hits, Mack ..), why not marriage Lighting and Sally, Mater and Holley that will couple. Lighting and Sally could have a child or children (like me for example) as it ensures Lighting offspring into the world of the race to replace him, could see their parents and you can be their brothers and sisters if they have a new villain would try to destroy McQueen (because everyone knows that Lighting is the race car the fastest in the world) or sabotage races (as we will see our spies and you may even be new), and new races throughout the world. As Rio de Janeiro, New York, Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Sydney ..
    I had a vague idea like that .. I thought to make a Pixar Cars 3 races and this time would be 24 hours du Mans. Good idea, no? We could see old and new riders and they could team up with several countries, for example (depending on the course of the 24h du Mans). Jeff Gorvette could be in the team McQueen example.
    We could have a flashback of the past Lighting (before he starts racing) and Sally (before it arrives in Radiator Spring when she was still a lawyer you) and when they were young to know the relationship they had with their parents. because I have a feeling that Lighting is angry with his parents.We could see the future of their children as well.Lighting could have a new look too.
    If only all our wishes could be realized as the movie Cars 3 last at least 2 hours 30 min and some as Skyfall ^ ^

    I also assume that Cars 2 was a little” a waste of time.” We talk about the new gasoline, Allinol. Etc. .. What is ecological What oil is a fossil fuel. Throughout the film, we did believe in a while all the runners run with their pétroel Serge engines as precise at the end of the film” the oil lobby is the oil lobby!”. Basically to movie gives us no solution compared to new energies. I regret that we did beat around the bush throughout the film .. But hey, it is true that we find a story ..

    There will probably a Cars 3. Because as they say, never two without three! There will therefore probably a trilogy. More Cars is the first or second favorite cartoon children. Then his surprise me that Pixar neglects the 3 component.
    If you want to know their next films are: Monster Inc. 2, Ratouille 2 Brave 2, Dinosaurs, Planes (Planes is inspired by Cars), Nemo 2 .. 2015 or 2016, we have enough to wait ^^

  4. I spoke with an insider last July, and he informed me that they began work on Cars three immediately after Cars 2 was released and it was still in process.

  5. they should definitely do it, i mean they can,t just end the series with mater getting a girlfriend and lightning making friends with a major rival. there are so many things they can do with it too.

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