Cars 3 - Nathan Fillion Interview

Lightning McQueen and Sterling talk shop in Cars 3

Nathan Fillion (Castle, Firely) has had a long and varied career, in both film and television but what he loves doing most is lending his voice to characters on the big and small screens. 

His latest voice work can be heard in Pixar’s Cars 3, where Fillion voices Sterling, a suave chief executive coupe who becomes the new sponsor of once-glorious racer Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson). The role is the second Pixar gig for the 46-year-old Canadian actor, whom previously lent his voice to villainous frat bro Johnny Worthington in Monsters University.

In Cars 3, blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) 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 (voice of Cristela Alonzo), 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!

Nathan Fillion at the World Premiere of Cars 3 in Anaheim, California ( Disneyland) June 10/17

The role of Sterling was almost tailor made for Fillion. Sterling, knows the ropes and is a charmer. He’s a marketing genius who buys the once-simple Rust-Eze Racing Center and transforms it into a state-of-the-art training facility. When a humbled Lightning McQueen rolls in, Sterling has every intention of helping catapult Lightning back to the top, so long as out-of-touch Lightning plays by the new rules of modern racing.

"Sterling is charming, but there is a line between charm and skeevy," Fillion said during our interview while he was in Toronto to promote the film. He continues, "charming is someone who admires you, can disarm you, and gain your trust. Then it's up to you to keep that trust and get the best for all parties involved.” 

Fillion has been very busy over the last few years. Know best for his roles on hit TV series, Castle and Firefly, Fillion recently did a few episode stint on Modern Family as Hailey's older weatherman boyfriend, Rainer Shine.  "I had a blast working on that show. Working with that cast was a comedy master class. Loads of fun, it really didn't feel like work at all." 

Fillion has many projects in the works but it was just revealed that Netlfix  has added five new cast members to the second season of “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events."

Nathan Fillion, Tony Hale, Sara Rue, Lucy Punch and Roger Bart will all join the upcoming season, though no details  have been revealed about their characters. The actors will join returning cast members Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Warburton, Malina Weissman, Louis Hynes, Presley Smith and K Todd Freeman. The cast announcement was made over the weekend at Netflix’s FYSee space in Los Angeles, during a panel discussion for “A Series of Unfortunate Events.”

For now, Fillion can't wait for audiences to see him in Cars 3 as Sterling, the cool business coupe who may or may not be looking out for Lightning McQueen. 

Cars 3 is directed by Brian Fee (storyboard artist “Cars,” “Cars 2“), produced by Kevin Reher (“A Bug’s Life,” “La Luna” short) and co-produced by Andrea Warren (“LAVA” short).

“Cars 3” cruises into theatres on June 16, 2017 and is a delightful treat for the whole family. 

I spoke with actor Nathan Fillion about his role as the business car "Sterling" in the new movie 'Cars 3' where he shared his experience of working on a PIxar film, seeing his character on the big screen and what it was like to work on the hit sitcom Modern Family playing Hailey's "older" boyfriend,  weatherman Rainer Shine.