Cars 2 has a decidedly international flavor as the gang of autos visits London, Paris, and Tokyo. A James Bond-like Aston Martin character adds to international appeal and fits right in with a plot involving espionage.
The first Cars film, released in 2006, was a licensing bonanza with over $8 billion in worldwide retail sales of tie-in merchandise. This spring Marvel is launching a comics-filled Disney*Pixar Magazine (see “Marvel Gets Pixar”) with special Cars 2 issue that should get a real boost from the excitement generated by the impending debut of the film that is certainly this summer’s safest box office bet.