Paul Newman Back Onscreen in 'Cars'

(andPOP) - It's been four years since Paul Newman appeared on movie theatre screens, but what better way to make a return that as a CGI automobile.

The 81-year-old acting great voices the character 'Doc Hudson' in the Disney/Pixar animated feature "Cars," which hits theatres this week.

"I wanted to be the first animated character on screen to demonstrate method acting," Newman told Reuters before last week's premiere. "Making an animated film was a lot more fun than I thought it would be. I didn't have to go on location for a long period of time. I didn't have to deal with temperamental actors or wait a long time for the lights to be set up."

That still doesn't make it okay for Butch Cassidy to play a freaking cartoon car. But I digress?

The movie follows the path of Lightning McQueen, a hot-shot racecar sentenced to community service after a traffic accident. As he works his way back to the racetrack, McQueen learns the true meaning of family and friendship. Vroom vroom.

"Cars" opens in theatres nationwide on Friday June 9.