New Cars 3 Characters Jackson Storm and Cruz Ramirez Revealed

The full trailer for the upcoming Pixar sequel Cars 3 is expected early next week. In the meantime we have some details about new characters Jackson Storm and Cruz Ramirez, which come via EW.

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Jackson Storm is a flashy villain, voiced by Social Network star Armie Hammer. He is described by director Brian Fee as "born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Everything comes easy to him, and everything about him says he's faster, so much so that we've designed him so that even when he's standing next to Lightning McQueen, McQueen looks old."

"He thinks the world is his," Fee continued. "He's taking over. He thinks the future of racing and the high-tech ways they train and what they can do means they're taking the sport to a new level, and the older guys had their day, and it's done, and they have no place in the future of racing."

Cruz Ramirez is a new trainer and longtime McQueen fan, and is voiced by stand-up comedian Cristela Alonzo. "Whereas others like Jackson would look at McQueen and dump him, Cruz isn't like that at all" Fee said. "She's the most optimistic person in the world and wants to do anything to help."

The new trailer for Cars 3 will air on January 9, during the college football national championship game between Alabama and Clemson this coming Monday, January 9. The game starts at 8 PM ET on ESPN, although it's unknown what time during the broadcast the Cars 3 trailer will show up.

The first teaser for the movie showed the character McQueen getting into a horrible wreck, somersaulting through the air, and crashing down back onto the track, pieces of the car flying every which way. The movie's official description reveals the first story details, suggesting the plot will be about McQueen's recovery after this horrible crash.

"Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves," reads a line from the description. "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!"

Cars 3 hits theaters on June 16, 2017. Owen Wilson returns to voice McQueen, and is joined once more by Larry the Cable Guy, Bonnie Hunt, Cheech Marin, and Paul Dooley.