Cars 3 interviews: Owen Wilson and Pixar's team on how they can make inanimate objects so loveable

Owen Wilson returns to voice Lightning McQueen, who suddenly finds himself overshadowed by the next generation of cars

Cars 3 will, once more, make you care deeply about big hunks of metal.

A feat so tremendous and inexplicable it's near to the point of becoming infuriating, but, then again, that's always been the magic of Pixar: it's made us fall in love with toys, fish, monsters, and even our own emotions.

With the franchise sequel already spinning into cinemas, we spoke to director Brian Fee and producer Kevin Reher, who have both worked in various positions on many of Pixar's greatest hits, alongside star Owen Wilson.

In Cars 3, Wilson returns to voice Lightning McQueen, a now seven-time Piston Cup racing legend, who finds himself suddenly overshadowed by the incoming generation of high-tech vehicles, particularly in one Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer).

In a desperate climb back to the top, Lightning is offered hope in the form of new trainer Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonzo), who longed to be a racer herself but has always felt too different to compete.

Cars 3 is out now in UK cinemas.