'Cars 2' set to become 'most lucrative film toy franchise' in history

London, July 31 (ANI): 'Cars 2' is all set to become the most lucrative film toy franchise ever, beating 'Star Wars' and 'Toy Story'.

The animated film depicting a cheeky racing car, is the latest from Disney's Pixar studio and according to the market research firm NPD, it is estimated to rake in 200 million euros in merchandise sales in Europe this year.

If this happens then it will be the first film or television programme to top the merchandise sales in Europe ever.

The last strongest sales of toys came five years ago from the first instalment of the film.

UK's biggest retailer shop Argos has already published its autumn/winter catalogue including 414 Cars-branded items, compared to 78 'Toy Story' ones and 23 'Transformers' ones.

"We expect Cars 2 to be exceptionally strong," the Telegraph quoted a spokesman for Argos as saying.

Hamleys, the toy department store in London, also has predicted that the 40-pound Finn McMissile car, with sound effects voiced by Michael Caine, might be its best-selling toy of the year.

"The thing about Cars is that it is a great franchise. It is still popular five years after the first film was made. With many films, the toys are very popular when the film first comes out but then drop in popularity very quickly," Laura Olver, the head of buying at Hamleys, added. (ANI)