One of the most beloved and magical characters in movie history is back—and about to not only be rediscovered but revved-up, tricked-out and put on the fast track to changing a family’s life in the high-speed comedy adventure, HERBIE: FULLY LOADED.
The legendary “Love Bug” who became an icon in the ’60s rides again in 2005; only this time he’s partnering up with Lindsay Lohan and headed from the scrap-yard heap to the hair-pin curves of NASCAR as he helps a young female race-car driver discover her destiny.
In 1969, the Walt Disney classic “Herbie The Love Bug” first introduced the world to the whimsical wonders of #53, the little white VW Bug with a mind and feelings all his own—not to mention an exuberant spirit that seemed to redefine the word “free-wheeling.” Herbie went on to become the star of numerous movies and television films in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, forging a three-decade cinematic legacy.
But since then, Herbie has been missing in action, awaiting demolition in a downtrodden junkyard. Now, just when it looks like his number is up, Herbie is rescued and has a chance to win over a whole new generation of fans in a fresh and original adventure for the 21st century. With an all-star cast appealing to audiences of all ages along for the fun-loving ride, this comedy takes the world’s grooviest VW places no one ever imagined he might go ransforming from Junkyard Herbie to Street Racer Herbie to Demolition Herbie to attaining the ultimate dream of becoming NASCAR Herbie.
Director Angela Robinson hits the throttle as she takes Herbie into all-new twists and curves that have him match-making, helping a family and even falling in love. Herbie’s (HERBIE THE LOVE BUG starring as himself) rescuer is none other than Maggie Peyton (LOHAN), a third-generation member of a legendary NASCAR family. Racing is deep in Maggie’s blood, but she has been forbidden from pursuing her dreams by her overprotective father and NASCAR champ Ray Peyton, Sr. (MICHAEL KEATON) and, instead, is about to begin a career at ESPN.
Ray does offer to buy Maggie a car for college graduation, but takes her to the junkyard to pick out her gift. Maggie has her eye on something sporty, yet a certain rusty, banged-up, ’60s-era white Volkswagen Bug keeps vying for her attention, revealing that whatever he lacks in the engine compartment, he makes up for with personality. Much to her surprise, Maggie leaves the lot with a smoke-spewing Herbie—who she soon discovers is no ordinary auto, but a charmed car who will literally help her shift the course of her life.
Soon, with a little help from his new friends, Herbie is stronger, faster and Herbie-erthan ever, as he and Maggie become partners in a hilarious quest to make the world believe in them.
“So many of us have loved Herbie since we were little kids. There’s no other character in movies like him, and I think we all felt it was time for his comeback,” says director Angela Robinson, who even went to race-car driving school to prepare to shoot the film’s contemporary NASCAR action.
“HERBIE: FULLY LOADED brings a charming new angle to Herbie’s legacy as he meets up with Maggie Peyton, the character played by Lindsay Lohan, and they both get the chance to realize their dreams on the NASCAR track. I knew it would be a whole lot of fun to bring the classic Herbie into a fresh new world of action stunts and special effects—but we also wanted him to be as real as ever. Our goal in designing the movie was to use our nostalgia for the original Herbie, who is still so cool and retro, while also updating him in a poppy, kind of hipster way that would appeal to a new generation of kids. We wanted the film to have a ‘California dreaming’feel to it and to be like a perfect summer day—sunny, happy, fast-moving and tinged with magic.”
Walt Disney Pictures presents HERBIE: FULLY LOADED, starring Lindsay Lohan, Justin Long, Breckin Meyer, with Matt Dillon and Michael Keaton. The film is directed by Angela Robinson (“D.E.B.S.”), based on characters created by Gordon Buford and from a story by Thomas Lennon & Robert Ben Garant and Mark Perez and a screenplay by Thomas Lennon & Robert Ben Garant and Alfred Gough & Miles Millar.
HERBIE: FULLY LOADED is produced by Robert Simonds (“Cheaper By The Dozen,” “Waterboy,” “Big Daddy” and the upcoming “The Pink Panther”). The executive producers are Charles Hirschhorn (“Inspector Gadget 2,” “Bull Durham”), Tracey Trench (“Just Married,” “Ever After,” and the upcoming “The Pink Panther”) and Michael Fottrell (“Catwoman,” “Sweet Home Alabama”). Lisa Stewart (“Almost Famous,” “Jerry Maguire”) serves as co-producer.
The production team who helped to bring HERBIE: FULLY LOADED back to the track includes director of photography Greg Gardiner (“Elf,” “Men In Black 2”), production designer Daniel Bradford (art director for “Kill Bill,” volumes I and II), editor Wendy Greene Bricmont, A.C.E., costume designer Frank Helmer (“D.E.B.S.,” HBO’s “Stranger Inside,” “Mean Girls,” and “The Sweetest Thing”), music supervisor Howard Paar (“D.E.B.S.,” “Monster”) and composer Mark Mothersbaugh (“The Life Aquatic,” “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen.”).
QUALIFYING LAP: Herbie Is Resurrected And Rides Again It was 1969 when America first discovered Herbie, AKA “The Love Bug,” the incredible little car with the body of a Beetle and the heart of a champion who came vividly to life in the runaway hit family movie of that era. The tale of the happy-go-lucky Volkswagen Bug with a pepped-up personality and a need for speed, set against the groovy, love-is-in-the-air backdrop of ’60s San Francisco, became instantly popular with audiences of all ages. The film would go on to spawn three more spin-off features and several television shows.
More than three decades later, the producers of HERBIE: FULLY LOADED realized that many of those who grew up with Herbie in the’60s, ’70s and ’80s now have kids of their own, and that they too might be ready for a new adventure involving the world’s first thinking, feeling, match-making automobile just for them. The idea was to keep Herbie’s retro-cool while bringing him roaring into the 21st century...as a NASCAR racer.
Says producer Robert Simonds: “There was little doubt in our minds that if Herbie was coming out of retirement in 2005, he’d want to head straight for the most exciting racing arena in America today: NASCAR. We were especially grateful to have the cooperation and participation of NASCAR as we began to develop the project. The result is that while this Herbie is as playful and fun as ever, he has to truly rev it up to take on the world of today’s real race champs.”
The officials at NASCAR were equally enthusiastic about joining forces with the world’s most famous magical car.
“For NASCAR, it was a perfect fit,” says Sarah Nettinga, director of film, television and music entertainment for NASCAR. “People all over the world know Herbie, and when you say ‘Herbie the Love Bug meets NASCAR,’you know immediately what’s going to happen: all kinds of fantastic things are about to ensue on the track. I also think NASCAR fans and Herbie share a lot of the same values of being family-friendly, genuine, down-to-earth and fun-loving. Herbie’s great in the NASCAR arena because he is a complete underdog—and anyone who has watched NASCAR knows that part of its excitement is that it’s a place where the underdog always has a shot at moving up from the back of the pack to win.”
Nettinga continues: “One thing that was really interesting was the NASCAR drivers’reaction to doing a Herbie movie—they all immediately wanted to be involved! So you have Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Kevin
continued next page
