Tulsa Author Has A Role In A New Disney-Pixar Movie

You may recognize a familiar voice and you may see some recognizable sights if you go to the New Disney-Pixar animated movie "Cars." <br/><br/>News on 6 anchor Craig Day says the movie is out in a few

Monday, May 15th 2006, 2:28 pm

By: News On 6

You may recognize a familiar voice and you may see some recognizable sights if you go to the New Disney-Pixar animated movie "Cars."

News on 6 anchor Craig Day says the movie is out in a few weeks and a Tulsan has a role in the film as the voice of one of the cars. â€œOh yeah. The rookie sensation came into the season unknown, but everyone knows him now."

When the new Disney-Pixar movie Cars speeds into theaters across the country June 9th, listen closely and you may recognize a Tulsa voice. "Dude, are you crying. No. I'm happy." Michael Wallis is happy about his role as one of the voices in the movie. "I am the voice of the Sheriff of Radiator Springs, this composite mythical town on Route 66 in the scene of most of the action in the film Cars."

The sheriff car is the one just to the right of the tow truck in the middle. "The Sheriff of Radiator Springs is a 1949 Mercury. A lot of people say it kind of looks like me. This used to be black mustache of mine kind of resembles the grill of that mercury."

Wallis is most known as an author and an expert on Route 66, which is the setting for most of the movie. He was hired as a Route 66 consultant, but after hearing his voice, the producers asked him to be voice talent, along with actors like Owen Wilson, Paul Newman and Larry the Cable Guy.

â€œYou're in Radiator Springs, the cutest little town in Carburetor County."

"This was a tremendous opportunity. Because I'm telling you this, the Pixar crew, the Disney folks are the most creative bunch I've ever worked with."

Wallis hopes to work with Pixar again in the future. "I'm happy." But for now, he's just happy and excited fans of all ages will see the movie soon. "I am just ecstatic about the final product."

Wallis and his wife Suzanne Fitzgerald Wallis also have a new book out that detail the art work and making of the movie. The book is called The Art of Cars.