Directing his first feature since the 1999 Toy Story II, John Lasseter chose an all-car, sorry, all-star cast. Owen Wilson, as hot-shot race car Lightning McQueen, was supported by Cheech Marin, Bonnie Hunt, George Carlin, Larry the Cable Guy and Jay Leno, plus cameos from Hanks, Allen, Goodman and Crystal and from speedster superstars Mario Andretti, Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Lasseter's top get was Newman, closing out a half-century of movie stardom and 35 years as a serious race-car driver. He voiced Doc Hudson, a small-town judge and secret former race champion for whom Lightning — a kind of Hustler or Hud or Cool Hand Luke, but win chrome — learns to have a world of respect. Lasseter is planning a Cars sequel. Alas, Newman won't be part of it; he died last September, at 83.
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