Disney•Pixar’s Cars 3: Meet Cristela Alonzo’s Cruz

Meet Cristela Alonzo’s character Cruz from Disney•Pixar’s Cars 3

In Disney•Pixar‘s Cars 3, Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is competing with much newer, younger cars with better technology and training techniques. After a devastating crash while competing against Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer), McQueen is down in the dumps. He calls on some old friends to help him recover and get back into fighting form. His good buddies, the Rust-eze guys, have sold their business to help McQueen get up to speed and compete. The company has been taken over by a car named Sterling (Nathan Fillion). This very wealthy car would love to make some cash off McQueen, and if the new training techniques fail to produce results, to use his image to market products. To do this, he has young racing trainer named Cruz (Cristela Alonzo) put McQueen through his paces on some crazy machinery. She’s a great trainer, but she’s never raced herself. She’s also a big fan of McQueen’s. Cristela Alonzo voices a character who’s got a lot to learn from her idol, but one who has a lot to teach him as well. We got a chance to attend an early press event at Pixar and the Sonoma Raceway, where we learned all about Cruz. Let us introduce you to the newest Cars character.

First, here is the official info for Cars 3: “Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. 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!”

We spoke to director Brain Fee, who told us that the character was originally male. “We’re very proud of her,” Fee said. “Where she came from and what we ended up with, the journey to create her, because she was probably the hardest character to figure out… She was male for no reason, really. It was just a male character. We started off with a completely different version of the movie, as many of our movies do. The mentorship was always there. It was always something we wanted to tell, but it was a whole different story… Cruz was just somebody he met along the journey. The story changed and the character’s place in the film started to lock. What is McQueen’s story and how is Cruz helping us tell that story? There was a moment where many things were afoot. It all kind of bubbled up together. We realized that it should just be a girl. It will make a much richer story. There is just so much more there. First of all, you don’t see it coming as much. The automotive world is male-dominated, right? We’re aware of that at Pixar. The animation industry is male-dominated. It’s changing. It’s changing every year and that’s wonderful. The tech industry is male-dominated. The tech industry has been trying to deal with that. Nobody wants that. So racing has been male-dominated, so to make her feel like an outsider, it just felt like the right thing to do.”

When we first meet Cruz, she’s a super spunky trainer, so excited to get a chance to work with McQueen. She jokes about his age, but in a way that makes you really think she not only wants to help him, but that she really believes her new methods are better than his old ones. However, we learn quickly that though new techniques work better with some cars, McQueen’s way of doing things isn’t wrong for him. Cruz is eager to learn and is more than willing to set out on an adventure with him.

We also got to see a scene where Cruz and McQueen head out on the road together to train off the equipment (an example of which you can see above.) Cruz gets some recognition, and after McQueen dismisses her accomplishments, she gives a great speech about how she always wanted to race, but never took the plunge. She didn’t do it because she was different than the other cars. Producer Kevin Reher and co-producer Andrea Warren told us that this was important to them, and casting Cristela Alonzo was perfect. Warren said, “I think our biggest goal was to make an authentic, relatable character. I think that there are these elements of her story that probably a lot of women and girls, or really, anyone who has ever felt out of place can relate to; the challenge of overcoming what it feels like to be the only one… I think that was a really compelling part of her story, and an authentic thing. When you think of what holds somebody back, there’s the element of being told that you can’t do something, but there’s also a different element that’s about you. Overcoming being the only one or being a pioneer. That was part of Cristela Alonzo’s story too.”

Reher continued, “She had been told, yeah, we clean motels and we cut hair by her family.” Warren added, “They were her family and they were just trying to protect her, not to be mean to her… that was just the expectations… she [Cruz] has to overcome herself and her own beliefs about herself. She conquers her own fears of what it feels like not to fit in, and does something about it.”

Cars 3 is directed by Fee (storyboard artist for Cars and Cars 2) and produced by Reher (A Bug’s Life, La Luna short). The film will race into theaters on June 16, 2017. The first Cars, directed by John Lasseter, earned $461.9 million worldwide in 2006, and Cars 2 topped that with $559.8 million globally in 2011.

Are you guys excited for Cars 3? What do you think of Cristela Alonzo’s character Cruz? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or tweet us @ComingSoonnet!

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ROAD TO VICTORY — When faced with a new generation of racers who threaten to derail his career, Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) teams up with tech-savvy, unconventional trainer Cruz Ramirez (voice of Cristela Alonzo) to find his way back to the top. Directed by Brian Fee, produced by Kevin Reher and co-produced by Andrea Warren, Disney•Pixar’s “Cars 3” opens in U.S. theaters on June 16, 2017. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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CRAZY 8 DRAMA — In “Cars 3,” Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) hits the road in an effort to reignite his career. Along the way, he finds himself in the middle of a smash-and-crash, figure-8 race, facing off against local legend Miss Fritter, a formidable school bus who—like #95 himself—doesn’t like to lose. Featuring Lea DeLaria (Netflix’s “Orange is the New Black”) as the voice of Miss Fritter, Disney•Pixar’s “Cars 3” opens in U.S. theaters on June 16, 2017. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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MEET THE LEGENDS — Lightning McQueen comes hood to hood with a group of characters who represent the roots of stock car racing—and provide a link to Lightning’s late coach and mentor, Doc Hudson. From left: River Scott (voice of Isiah Whitlock Jr.), Junior “Midnight” Moon (voice of Robert Glenn “Junior” Johnson), Smokey (voice of Chris Cooper), Louise “Barnstormer” Nash (voice of Margo Martindale), and Lightning himself (voice of Owen Wilson). “Cars 3” opens in U.S. theaters  on June 16, 2017. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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SIMULATED SPEED — Tech-savvy trainer Cruz Ramirez (voice of Cristela Alonzo) is armed with cutting-edge tools—like a racing simulator—to help turn racers-in-training into champions. But Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) isn’t a fan of Cruz's high-tech techniques and decides instead to return to his roots—bringing his skeptical trainer along for the ride. Disney•Pixar’s “Cars 3” opens in U.S. theaters on June 16, 2017. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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CARS 3: Story - This storyboard was drawn by “Cars 3” story artists John Hoffman and Sam Hood.  Storyboards are drawn by story artists in order to pre-visualize the film. They are placed side-by-side in sequence by the editorial team, so that they convey the pace of scenes and deliver a rough sense of how the story unfolds. This storyboard is one of approximately 81,924 story panels that were delivered to editorial. The storyboarding process, in the form it is known today, was developed at Walt Disney Studios during the early 1930s. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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CARS 3 (Pictured) - Concept art for Jackson Storm by Production Designer Jay Shuster. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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CARS 3: Sets and Layout - Using art reference for guidance, the basic forms and shapes of the sets are translated into the computer during a process called “Modeling.”  “Shading” comes next, during which technical artists use a combination of painting and programming to apply textures, colors, patterns and other material properties to give the sets complexity and appeal. This frame also shows the phase known as “Layout,” in which a virtual camera is placed into a shot. The characters are “staged” or placed into positions within the set that work visually with the chosen camera angle. Layout precedes character Animation. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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CARS 3: Animation and Crowds - When Layout is complete, the primary and secondary characters are animated and brought to life by the Animation department. Animators create the personalities and "acting" of the characters, and in this particular shot, the Crowds department adds hundreds of background characters to fill the stadium and compliment the acting of the primary characters. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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CARS 3: Lighting and Final Image - The Lighting department is responsible for integrating all of the elements – characters, sets, effects, etc. – into a final, rendered image. The Lighting process involves placing virtual light sources into the scene to illuminate the characters and the set.  Technical artists place the lighting to draw the audience's eye to story points and to create the correct mood.  The lit images are then rendered at high resolution.  24 lit images, of over 2 million pixels each, are created for each one second of the movie. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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CARS 3 (Pictured) - Concept art by Production Designer Bill Cone. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reseved.

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CARS 3 (Pictured) - Thomasville Track concept art by Brandon Coates. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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CARS 3 (Pictured) - Simulator concept art by Artist Kristian Norelius. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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CARS 3 (Pictured) - Thomasville Track concept art by Artist Garrett Taylor. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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CARS 3 (Pictured) - Concept art of Miss Fritter by Artist Matt Nolte. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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CARS 3 (Pictured) - Cruz Ramirez visual development progression. Design by Bob Pauley, Model by Andrew Schmidt and Sculpt by Jerome Ranft. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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CARS 3 (Pictured) - Concept art of Jackson Storm by J Mays, Former Global Design and Retired Chief Creative Officer of Ford ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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CARS 3 (Pictured) - Legends lineup concept art by Artist John Lee. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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CARS 3 (Pictured) - Sterling concept art by Artist Garrett Taylor. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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Cars 3: Art - Once the storyline for a sequence is completed, concept art is created by the production designer and art department to determine the look and feel of the film.  This concept art piece was drawn by artist John Lee and showcases the exploration of color and the design of new characters and new environments. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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Natalie Certain (voice of Kerry Washington) is a highly respected statistical analyst who knows her numbers. Book-smart and mathematically gifted, Certain is a fresh voice in the racing world. While she may earn top marks in her ability to evaluate a racer’s stats, she could be underestimating the importance of determination. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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DO THE MATH — In Disney•Pixar’s “Cars 3," Kerry Washington lends her voice to Natalie Certain, a highly respected statistical analyst who knows her numbers. Book-smart and mathematically gifted, Certain is a fresh voice in the racing world. While she may earn top marks in her ability to evaluate a racer’s stats, she could be underestimating the importance of determination. “Cars 3” opens in U.S. theaters on June 16, 2017. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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A Cars 3 art review, including (left) Director Brian Fee and (right) Production Designer Jay Shuster as seen on January 28, 2016 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

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A Cars 3 art review, including Bob Pauley, John Lasseter and Director Brian Fee, as seen on January 28, 2016 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

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A Cars 3 art review, including (left tor right) Andy Dreyfus, Director Brian Fee, Production Designer Jay Shuster, Craig Foster and John Lasseter, as seen on January 28, 2016 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

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A Cars 3 story review, including Director Brian Fee and Head of Story Scott Morse, on February 18, 2016 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

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Brian Fee and Scott Morse review a Cars 3 story sequence on December 15, 2016 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

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Brian Fee and Scott Morse review a Cars 3 story sequence on December 15, 2016 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

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Brian Fee and Scott Morse review a Cars 3 story sequence on December 15, 2016 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

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Jay Ward is photographed on December 15, 2016 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

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A Cars 3 animation walk thru review, including Director Brian Fee, as seen on February 7, 2017, at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

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A Cars 3 animation walk thru review, including Director Brian Fee, as seen on February 7, 2017, at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

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A Cars 3 motion graphics review, including Director Brian Fee and Cars Franchise Guardian Jay Ward, as seen on February 9, 2017 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

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Cars 3 writers Bob Peterson and Kiel Murray with Director Brian Fee during a story review, as seen on February 9, 2017, at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

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Cars 3 writers Bob Peterson and Kiel Murray with Director Brian Fee during a story review, as seen on February 9, 2017, at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

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Cars 3 writers Bob Peterson and Kiel Murray with Director Brian Fee during a story review, as seen on February 9, 2017, at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

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Jon Reisch and Kim White discuss effects and lighting in a Cars 3 sequence, as seen on February 14, 2017 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

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Gus Dizon and Michael Comet work on "Cars 3," as seen on March 21, 2017 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

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"Cars 3" Producer Kevin Reher and Director Brian Fee talk in the hallway on March 22, 2017 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

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Members of the "Cars 3" production have a scheduling review, including (lower left to right clockwise) Production Manager Pam Darrow, Production Office Coordinator Emily Davis, Production Office Manager Susan Eggett, Supervising Technical Director Michael Fong, Co-Producer Andrea Warren, Director Brian Fee, Director's Assistant Jacob Combs and Producer Kevin Reher, as seen on March 22, 2017 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

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Members of the "Cars 3" production have a scheduling review, including Supervising Technical Director Michael Fong, Co-Producer Andrea Warren and Director Brian Fee, as seen on March 22, 2017 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

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Members of the "Cars 3" production have a scheduling review, including Supervising Technical Director Michael Fong, Co-Producer Andrea Warren and Director Brian Fee, as seen on March 22, 2017 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Grand Marshal Owen Wilson, voice of Lightning McQueen in "Cars 3" poses with Lightning McQueen for the 59th Annual DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 26, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Owen Wilson

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Grand Marshal Owen Wilson, voice of Lightning McQueen in "Cars 3" poses with NASCAR racer Bubba Wallace for the 59th Annual DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 26, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Owen Wilson; Bubba Wallace

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Grand Marshal Owen Wilson, voice of Lightning McQueen in "Cars 3" poses with NASCAR racers Daniel Suarez, Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott for the 59th Annual DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 26, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Owen Wilson; Daniel Suarez; Bubba Wallace; Ryan Blaney; Chase Elliott

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Grand Marshal Owen Wilson, voice of Lightning McQueen in "Cars 3" poses with NASCAR racers Daniel Suarez, Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott for the 59th Annual DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 26, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Owen Wilson; Daniel Suarez; Bubba Wallace; Ryan Blaney; Chase Elliott

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 26: View of "Cars 3" Lightning McQueen and Cruz Ramirez during the 59th Annual DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 26, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Disney)

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 23: NASCAR drivers Chase Elliott (L) and Jeff Gordon attend the "Cars 3" NASCAR Collaboration Announcement on February 23, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Chase Elliott; Jeff Gordon

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 23: Actress Cristela Alonzo (L) and director Brian Fee attend the "Cars 3" NASCAR Collaboration Announcement on February 23, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Cristela Alonzo; Brian Fee

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 23: Actress Cristela Alonzo (L) and NASCAR driver Daniel Suarez attend the "Cars 3" NASCAR Collaboration Announcement on February 23, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Cristela Alonzo; Daniel Suarez

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 23: View of the "Cars 3" NASCAR Collaboration Announcement on February 23, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Disney)

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 23: (L-R) NASCAR drivers Daniel Suarez, Bubba Wallace, director Brian Fee, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott attend the "Cars 3" NASCAR Collaboration Announcement on February 23, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Daniel Suarez; Bubba Wallace; Brian Fee; Ryan Blaney; Chase Elliott

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 23: (Top L-R) Howard Augustine "Humpy" Wheeler, Jr, Mike Joy, Shannon Spake, Ray Evernham, Kyle Petty, Richard "The King" Petty, Jeff Gordon, Darrell Waltrip, Zane Stoddard (Bottom L-R) Ryan Blaney, Bubba Wallace, Cristela Alonzo, Brian Fee, Daniel Suarez, and Chase Elliott attend the "Cars 3" NASCAR Collaboration Announcement on February 23, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Howard Augustine Wheeler Jr; Mike Joy; Shannon Spake; Ray Evernham; Kyle Petty; Richard Petty; Jeff Gordon; Darrell Waltrip; Zane Stoddard; Ryan Blaney; Bubba Wallace; Cristela Alonzo; Brian Fee; Daniel Suarez; Chase Elliott

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 23: (L-R) Ray Evernham, Kyle Petty, Cristela Alonzo, Richard "The King" Petty, and Jeff Gordon speak onstage during the "Cars 3" NASCAR Collaboration Announcement on February 23, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Ray Evernham; Kyle Petty; Cristela Alonzo; Richard Petty; Jeff Gordon

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OFF TO THE RACES — Disney•Pixar’s “Cars 3” is teaming up with NASCAR this year as crowd favorite Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) prepares to return to the big screen June 16, 2017, alongside elite trainer Cruz Ramirez (voice of Cristela Alonzo). Details about the season-long collaboration, which marks the biggest between the “Cars” franchise and NASCAR, were shared today (Feb. 23, 2017) in Daytona Beach, Fla., ahead of this weekend’s 59th annual Daytona 500—for which Wilson will serve as grand marshal. © 2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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CARS 3Jackson Storm (voice of Armie Hammer)Jackson Storm is fast, sleek and ready to race. A frontrunner in the next generation of racers, Storm’s quiet confidence and cocky demeanor are off-putting—but his unmatched speed threatens to redefine the sport. Trained on high-tech simulators that are programmed to perfect technique and maximize velocity, Jackson Storm is literally built to be unbeatable—and he knows it.©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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CARS 3Cruz Ramirez (voice of Cristela Alonzo)Cruz Ramirez is a sunny-but-fierce unconventional trainer at the Rust-eze Racing Center. She expertly arms the team's talented rookies with cutting-edge tools to tear up the track—but she nearly stalls when her longtime idol Lightning McQueen shows up. While she’d love to help him find his way back to the top, she knows the competition is faster than ever, and victory is all about speed—or is it?©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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CARS 3Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson)Lightning McQueen is world champion—a modern-day racing legend who’s riding high with five Piston-Cup wins under his hood. Suddenly, he finds himself faced with a new generation of racers who threaten not only his dominance in the sport—but the confidence that got him there. Determined to get back to the pole position, the #95 must decide if his love for racing is enough to fuel the comeback of his life.©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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REAR VIEW — The legendary #95 may be leading the pack, but the high-tech Next Gen racers are closing in fast. Directed by Brian Fee and produced by Kevin Reher, “Cars 3” cruises into theaters on June 16, 2017. ©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

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