The ‘Cars 3’ Trailer Teases a Darker Pixar Movie

At the risk of flushing all of my critical cred right down the toilet, I will confess I don’t hate the first Cars. And Cars 2, while insane, is sort of fascinating in its madness. It’s not good, but I have watched it more than once. (On the advice of my attorney, I will not comment on my physical or mental impairment at the time of these screenings.)

All that said, I’m not exactly dying for another Cars. Disney and Pixar are, though, because those Cars movies make a crapload of money and remain a merchandising bonanza to this day, a decade after the first installment rolled into theaters. For a lot of kids, it’s become a first favorite movie, not just by Disney or Pixar, but by anyone in general. And so here comes Cars 3, directed by Pixar storyboard artist Brian Fee and heralded today by its first teaser above. Here’s the plot synopsis:

Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician, Cruz Ramirez, with her own plan to win, plus inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet and a few unexpected turns. Proving that #95 isn’t through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage!

Given that Cars 2 featured the cars eating sushi and going to the bathroom (seriously, they use car toilets), Cars 3 looks like a bit of a departure from that. Or maybe they’re saving the car toilets for the full trailer? Cars 3 opens in theaters on June 16, 2017.