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KING | A Cars Fan Film is a real fan-made project in development, but it is not a Pixar production or an official Cars prequel. Created by Ariya Alexander Berenji, the short is planned as a story about Strip Weathers before he becomes the racing legend known as The King. Its early NASCAR-inspired designs help explain the “looks legit” reaction; they do not make the project part of Pixar canon.
Is the Cars prequel real?
Yes, in the sense that a fan project exists: Berenji’s Casting Call Club listing identifies it as KING | A Cars Fan Film and seeks voice actors. It is not an official Pixar film, and the available project information does not establish that Pixar is involved. Treat “prequel” as a description of its intended story, not an addition to the official Cars timeline.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Cars | $11.78 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Cars (Full Screen Edition) | $18.76 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Cars 3 | $12.34 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Pixar - Complete Come To Life - 7 Film DVD Collection: Cars 1-3 + Toy Story 1-4 | $109.36 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Planes | $10.07 | Buy on Amazon |
Who is making it, and what is the story?
The listing names Ariya as creator and points to the R-ya Productions YouTube channel. The planned story follows Strip Weathers before his rise to fame. Berenji’s logline says: “After losing a chance to win the championship, one-time Piston Cup winner Strip Weathers must learn to work as a team through lessons he’s learned from his best friend, Chick Hicks, and his mentor, The Queen.”
The planned characters include Strip, Chick Hicks and Toni Jo Torque, an original character also known as The Queen. Independent coverage describes Toni Jo as a five-time champion who mentors Weathers and Hicks; that description belongs to the fan film’s fictional character, not to a verified real-world racing record. The creator’s listing also names Tex Dinoco, Lynda Weathers and other roles.
#1 Best Overall
- Cars Is the saga of Lightning McQueen, a hot-shot stock-car. En route to a big race, the cocky McQueen gets waylaid in Radiator Springs, where he finds the true meaning of friendship and family.
Why do the designs look familiar to racing fans?
Coverage places the story in the 1980s, more than 20 years before the original Cars film, and connects its designs to real NASCAR history. The reported inspirations include a black No. 3 car associated with Dale Earnhardt, a young Chick Hicks in a red-and-gold scheme inspired by Bill Elliott’s No. 9 Ford Thunderbird, and a younger Strip Weathers design linked to Richard Petty’s blue-and-orange racing colors. These are reported creative references in an unofficial fan project, not Pixar-confirmed backstory.
Reported settings include Copper Canyon Speedway, which also appears in Cars 3, plus a bowling alley and an ice cream parlor serving fictional “frozen coolant.” The recognizable setting and racing references contribute to the visual resemblance without changing the project’s unofficial status.
Rank #2
- From the acclaimed creators of TOY STORY, THE INCREDIBLES, and FINDING NEMO comes a high-octane adventure comedy that shows life is about the journey, not the finish line. Hotshot rookie race car Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is living life in the fast lane until he hits a detour on his way to the most important race of his life. Stranded in Radiator Springs, a forgotten town on the old Route 66
What is known about production and release?
The creator’s listing was posted May 24, 2026. It records a June 27 update about reviewing auditions and a July 6 update saying the team had narrowed roles and planned to send offers. That is evidence of casting activity, not evidence that production is complete.
The available information does not establish a release date, final runtime, distribution platform, completed cast or current completion status. There is no confirmed date to watch the short, so claims that it is released or arriving on a particular date are not supported by the listing or the cited coverage.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- From high above the world of 'Cars' flies 'Planes', Disney's upcoming animated action-packed comedic adventure starring Dusty, a big-hearted, fast-flying crop duster who dreams of competing in the most exhilarating around-the-world air race in history. There's only a couple of not-so-small problems, Dusty is not exactly built for racing and he also happens to be afraid of heights. Despite his fear
Rank #3
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