The franchise has been hugely successful for Pixar but will Cars 4 ever happen? Here's a rundown of all the updates on the possible animated sequel.

The franchise has been a huge success for Pixar but is Cars 4 likely to happen? The first Cars movie followed a talking race car called Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson), who gets lost in a desert town on his way to a race and is forced to complete community service before he can leave. The cocky race car eventually falls in love with the small town after spending time with the residents and learns a little humility. While Cars wasn't quite as acclaimed as other Pixar efforts like Toy Story or Monsters, Inc, it was still a big success. Cars also boasted a great cast, including the legendary Paul Newman and Michael Keaton (Spider-Man: Homecoming).

Cars 2 would add some spy drama intrigue to the series, with Lightning taking part in an international race and working alongside a spy named Finn McMissile, voiced by Michael Caine (The Dark Knight). The 2011 Cars sequel received mixed reviews, with the visuals being praised but the story and comedy found lacking. Littered with fun Easter eggs and Pixar connections, Cars 3 also seemingly brought Lightning's story to a close in a straightforward manner. He suffers a terrible crash during a race and has to train to take on a new generation of racers. Cars 3 was considered an improvement on the second movie and tackled some darker themes.

Cars also launched a number of spinoffs, including numerous short films, video games and a movie franchise called Planes. This series ran for two movies, and while a third entry was planned, it stalled following the closure of Disneytoon Studios. The Cars franchise has collectively grossed over $1 billion worldwide — and much, much more in merchandise — so will Cars 4 ever happen?

Pixar Plans To Focus On Original Concepts And Pause Sequels Like Cars 4

Although Pixar's Cars 4 is still possible, it definitely won't be arriving any time soon. Nothing has been officially confirmed, but Pixar has clearly turned away from making sequels for the foreseeable future. Pixar had been on a run of sequels to their biggest properties for several years, including Finding Dory and Incredibles 2, but after the release of Toy Story 4, producer Mark Nielsen confirmed that the company would be shifting their focus toward developing original projects instead. Since then, Pixar's Onward, Luca, Soul, and Turning Red have reinforced their dedication to original stories. Its next addition, Lightyear, continues this expansion on new characters and stories, steering Pixar further away from older franchises like Cars. Cars 3 also did a good job wrapping up McQueen's racing arc, and with the movie's modest performance compared to previous entries, Cars 4 will likely stay on ice for at least the next few years.

Cars Future Explained: Disney+'s Cars On The Road Spin-Off

Though the future of Cars 4 remains uncertain, Pixar did confirm that a spin-off series, Cars On The Road, is coming to Disney+ in 2022. Lightning McQueen star Owen Wilson is returning alongside Larry The Cable Guy, who played Mater. Moving away from racing and concentrating on McQueen's relationship with his quirky best friend is a smart move, and the Cars On The Road series will present lots of new comedic opportunities as they take on a cross-country road trip. Disney is promising a raft of new characters, imaginative destinations, and the appearance of old friends throughout the series. Even if Cars 4 never gets made, there could be plenty more in this vein from the beloved franchise.

Will Cars 4 Happen? What We Know About The Possible Lightning McQueen Sequel

Cars 4 probably won't be happening with Pixar's current slate of movies. Back in 2017, producers Kevin Reher and Andrea Warren had spoken about their openness to expanding the Cars franchise: “Like any sequel, from Toy Story 4 to Incredibles 2, as long as there’s a good story to tell it’s worth investing, we do love these characters, we love them as much as the public does." Owen Wilson has also talked about a possible return for another Lightning McQueen sequel, suggesting a radical reinvention of the racing series: “I would imagine that if they do do another one, it’ll be something pretty cool. But yeah maybe like Lightning McQueen in sort of like a thriller. Maybe that could be something.” Yet despite their excitement, Pixar has clearly taken the Cars franchise, and all upcoming projects, in a very different direction.

When considering if there will be a Cars 4 movie, a key piece of information to remember is not just that Cars movies have fans, it's that the merchandising power of the franchise is incredible. The Pixar movie series ranks high with the likes of Star Wars and Disney Princesses. Back in 2012, Forbes listed Cars as raking in an enormous $1.05 billion. However, that pulling power might not be quite as significant several years after Cars 3, which makes the Cars On The Road spin-off series the perfect compromise. The Disney+ show will appeal to fans who want more Lightning McQueen content without needing to dedicate another movie project to these characters. If the series does well, Pixar might reevaluate their stance on sequels. However, Cars On The Road would need to do well enough to make up for the franchise's last installment if there is ever going to be a Cars 4 coming out.

Cars 3 Was The Lowest Grossing Of The Series

While Cars 3 was a box-office success, its numbers were noticeably down from the second movie. Cars 2 grossed over $560 million in 2011, while Cars 3 took in over $380 million. Again, that haul isn't terrible but combined with the mixed reception of the second movie, it suggests audience interest in the Cars franchise is dipping. Following the third installment's release, there was also some notable fan discourse about the absence of Doc Hudson's (Paul Newman) after the first Cars movie - more specifically, how the films never actually addressed what happened to him. According to Earn the Necklace, "After his [Newman's] death in 2008, the production company thought it best to leave him out of Cars 2."

This call certainly makes sense, but many fans were still dismayed by how Doc's character wasn't tied up in either Pixar sequel movie, aside from being shown in flashbacks using archived recordings of Newman's voice in Cars 3. Though issues like this probably don't sour many Cars fans on the entire franchise in the grand scheme of things, perceived missteps definitely add up, and subsequently influence the future success of possible Pixar sequels. This, in turn, also influences how hard creative higher-ups are willing to fight for another entry of the Cars franchise.

A Future Cars Sequel Should Move Cruz Ramirez To Pole Position

Cars 3 introduced Cruz Ramirez as Lightning's trainer, but she eventually takes his spot in the final race. The third film was also described as the third act of McQueen's career, with the ending seeming to suggest Cruz would become the new racer while Lightning would act as a mentor. Cars 3 producers Kevin Reher and Andrea Warren were even quoted in a 2019 article from The Cinemaholic as saying that they could see Cruz's Cars character involved in a possible version of Cars 4 if she ended up being a "breakout character" in Cars 3. And, of course, she arguably became just that.

So, if Cars 4 does happen, there's a slim chance it would still involve McQueen's racing as the film's focus. He's certainly still the face of the franchise. However, there are past comments from the Cars team that suggest otherwise. In 2017, Brian Fee (who directed the third film) told Cinemablend:

"I actually don't know the future of the franchise. I don't know where we'll go after that. I don't know if we'll make one [another sequel]. If we do, will it be more McQueen? This is the third act but I don't know how many acts he has in his life. Will other characters be main characters, at this point I have no idea. I think anything's possible."

What Pixar Is Doing Next

Pixar has several upcoming projects headed to theaters in the next few years. Its next big movie is Lightyear, the origin story of the "real" person who inspired Toy Story's Buzz Lightyear action figure. In this sci-fi action adventure film, Buzz has been stranded on an alien planet and faces countless obstacles in his attempts to escape, including a menacing robot believed to be a version of Toy Story's Emperor Zurg. Tim Allen is not reprising his role as Buzz, who will instead be voiced by Chris Evans for the movie. Lightyear is directed by Finding Dory's Angus MacLane and is set to come out on June 17, 2022.

The other confirmed future Pixar movie is Elemental, which is scheduled to release the following year in June 2023. Elemental takes place in a city where people made of fire, water, land, and air all live together and follows two such beings who have to work together despite their supposed incompatibility. It will be directed by Peter Sohn, who previously directed The Good Dinosaur. Little is known yet about the Elemental movie, but if it's anything like Pixar's best projects, it will be another impactful tearjerker from the studio. Both Lightyear and Elemental further confirm Pixar is done making sequels — at least for now. Whether or not a Cars 4 movie ever gets made, it seems that audiences will have plenty to look forward to regardless.

Next: All 6 Pixar Movies & Shows Releasing After Turning Red