John Lasseter returns to direct 'Cars 2'

John Lasseter will co-direct Cars 2 with Brad Lewis, reports Jim Hill Media.

Lasseter, the chief creative officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, helmed the first Cars movie and was expected to hand over the reins to Lewis for the follow-up to 2006's box office hit.

Pixar's first feature-length movie Toy Story was helmed by Lasseter. He also co-directed A Bug's Life and Toy Story 2. The filmmaker has been credited in some capacity on each of Pixar's 11 movies.

Cars 2 is slated for release on July 22, 2011.