Speed Racer

[MacGuffin]

Speed Racer film back in gear
Source: Los Angeles Times

Chim Chim must be doing back flips. Warner Bros. is back on track with development of a live-action film adaptation of the popular Japanese-cartoon series "Speed Racer," the studio said Thursday.

The "Speed" project, idling in Warner's slow lane for about a decade, shifted back into high gear after actor Vince Vaughn ("Dodgeball") sold the studio on his own concept for the movie, with Vaughn cast as the title character's mysterious big brother, Racer X, a studio spokeswoman said.

A previous incarnation of the project had director Julian Temple at the helm with Johnny Depp on board to star, but the trade paper Daily Variety said that version stalled over budget considerations.

[shinwa]

hmmmmm

[MacGuffin]

Are the Wachowskis on Speed?
IGNFF has heard an interesting rumor!

IGN FilmForce was recently informed by a longtime source that Larry and Andy Wachowski, the creative force behind The Matrix trilogy, may write and direct the live-action, feature film version of Speed Racer for Joel Silver Pictures and Warner Bros. The long-in-development project is based on the classic Japanese cartoon.

None of the parties involved would go on the record when asked about the project. Inquiries to Warners and the Wachowskis' publicist went unanswered by publishing time.

Silver Pictures said it would not comment about any potential project that may or may not be in an early stage of development. Read into that comment what you will.

So where does this leave Vince Vaughn, who sold his pitch for a Speed Racer movie to Warners in June 2004? Will he still co-star as the title character's brother Racer X in a possible Wachowskis version? When asked if their client was still attached to Speed Racer, Vaughn's reps at UTA had "no comment."

[MacGuffin]

Speed Racer Update
Is Vince Vaughn in or out?

IGN FilmForce recently broke the news that Matrix filmmakers Larry and Andy Wachowski were going to write and direct the live-action version of the cartoon classic Speed Racer for Warner Bros. and producer Joel Silver.

What was unclear at that time was whether Vince Vaughn was still involved with the project. Vaughn sold his pitch for a Speed Racer movie to Warners in June 2004. The Wachowskis' involvement raised some questions about Vaughn's participation and, at that time, none of the parties in question would confirm or deny whether the actor was still attached.

IGN FilmForce can now report, however, that Vaughn remains involved with Speed Racer and is still likely to take a supporting role in the film as well, probably as the title character's big brother, Racer X.

Sources also advised IGN that the Wachowskis are starting work on the screenplay but that the project isn't expected to go before cameras anytime soon.

[MacGuffin]

'Speed' hits live-action high gear
Source: Hollywood Reporter

After years of idling, the big-screen, live-action version of "Speed Racer" is ready to zoom, this time with Larry and Andy Wachowski behind the wheel.

The Wachowski brothers are writing and will direct the movie, which will be produced by Joel Silver. The movie will be the duo's first directorial outing since completing the Silver-produced "Matrix" series in 2003. They are reuniting with several of the creative behind-the-scenes talent from the "Matrix" films, including executive producer Grant Hill and visual effects supervisor John Gaeta, who won an Oscar for his work on "The Matrix."

Based on the classic 1960s series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida that later was retooled for North American audiences, the big-screen "Speed" will follow the adventures of the young race car driver Speed in his quest for glory in his thundering gadget-laden vehicle, Mach 5. The movie will feature other characters from the show, including Speed's family and his mysterious archrival, Racer X.

Silver has been trying to get the film version off the ground since the early 1990s; in 2004, Vince Vaughn even pitched a take that cast him as Racer X. When Silver worked on "V for Vendetta" with the Wachowskis, he approached them about tackling the project. The duo were reluctant to do it unless they could figure out a way to bring something new to the table.

"They are approaching these racing scenes in a way you've never seen before," said Silver, adding that the brothers are designing the movie's look as they write. Silver also said that unlike the more adult-oriented material of the Wachowskis' past -- "Vendetta," the "Matrix" movies and "Bound" were all rated R -- "Speed" will be family-friendly.

"They wanted to do something that could appeal to everybody," Silver said.

The plan is for the Wachowskis to shoot in summer 2007 for a summer 2008 release.

Courtenay Valenti is overseeing for the studio.

"Speed" will be a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, of a Silver Pictures production.

[MacGuffin]

Silver on Speed Racer
Producer gives an update.

Producer Joel Silver will re-team with his Matrix mates Larry and Andy Wachowski for the big-screen version of the cartoon classic Speed Racer.

The producer recently said that the sibling filmmakers were drawn to the project because it offered them the chance to tackle lighter fare after The Matrix and V for Vendetta, which the Wachowskis produced with Silver.

"They said they'd never work again [after] the Matrix sequels," Silver advised Empire magazine. "At the end of the first couple of days the studio was able to forecast what (V for Vendetta) would make domestically, which was $70 million+. That was great. The movie didn't cost very much, so everyone was very happy."

He continued, "The next weekend Ice Age 2 opened with $70 million and the boys thought that was very interesting...They wanted to make a big family entertainment."

As for the film's story, Silver would reveal that, "It's the story of Speed Racer, but in a way that you've never seen anything like that before in your life. The Wachowskis brought a tremendous sense of wonder and magic to that story. They just had a different way of seeing the story, in the way they do on everything they do. And we're going to shoot all of that in Germany."

[w/o horse]

Wait.  What.

[Pubrick]

Wait.  What.

it's joel silver. the human equivalent of a talking piece of shit.

[©brad]

He continued, "The next weekend Ice Age 2 opened with $70 million and the boys thought that was very interesting...They wanted to make a big family entertainment."

so they don't want to make anymore movies unless they have big opening weekends?...

[MacGuffin]

so they don't want to make anymore movies unless they have big opening weekends?...

The divorce and the sex change must have cleaned 'em out. 

[MacGuffin]

Speed Racer Cast?
Musical star linked with title role.

Have the Wachowski brothers found their Speed Racer? The rumor mill is suggesting that High School Musical star Zac Efron has won the role.

The thesp is reportedly "in talks" to play the title role in the Warners pic. According to the site Just Jared, "Zac, 19, was even granted permission by Disney to leave the High School Musical 2 set for a day so that he could attend the Speed Racer callback audition."

Efron's big-screen breakthrough will come in the forthcoming feature film version of the musical Hairspray, wherein he plays Link Larkin.

The Wachowskis reportedly want to make Speed Racer G-rated family entertainment, and the casting of a teen star who made his mark on the Disney Channel would certainly signify a move in that direction.

[polkablues]

[MacGuffin]

Hirsch picks up 'Speed'
Actor in the driver's seat
Source: Variety

Emile Hirsch is in final talks to star in the Wachowski brothers' "Speed Racer" for producer Joel Silver and Warner Bros. Pictures, putting the tentpole project into full throttle.

Based on the 1960s Japanese cartoon series by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, pic will follow the adventures of the youthful Speed -- played by Hirsch -- as he tries to obtain victory in his tricked-out Mach 5 racecar, built by his father.

Speed is often bailed out of danger by Racer X, a rival with a mysterious connection to Speed. Part has not been cast.

Warners recently moved up the opening date of "Speed Racer" two weeks to May 9, 2008 and will release it day-and-date in most international markets.

Film marks Larry and Andy Wachowski's first directing effort since the "Matrix" trilogy, which Silver produced through his Warners-based Silver Pictures banner. The brothers penned 2005's "V for Vendetta."

Warners and Village Roadshow Pictures are co-financing "Speed Racer," which begins production this summer.

Hirsch ("Lords of Dogtown") is next in theaters with "Into the Wild," directed by Sean Penn. Film, which Paramount Vantage releases this fall, is based on Jon Krakauer's nonfiction tome about the life and death of Christopher McCandless, who abandoned his life to move to the Alaskan wilderness.

Silver produced three pics for Warners that bow this year: "The Invasion," starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig; "The Brave One," starring Jodie Foster; and holiday laffer "Fred Claus," starring Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti.

[polkablues]

Your move, Joel Silver...

[MacGuffin]

Hirsch Talks Speed Racer
The newly minted star of the Wachowskis' next film.

Emile Hirsch (Alpha Dog) is set to star in the title role of Warner Bros. Pictures' and Village Roadshow Pictures' new actioner Speed Racer, under the direction of the Wachowski brothers. Although the Hollywood trades reported the casting earlier this week, the official announcement was made today by Jeff Robinov, President of Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Robinov said in a statement, "Emile Hirsch is one of today's fastest-rising young stars, which makes him the perfect choice to take the wheel of Speed's Mach 5. He continues to showcase his talents in a variety of challenging roles and we are thrilled to have him in the title role of Speed Racer."

Hirsch recorded a video message to Speed Racer fans, which is posted at YouTube.com. "Ever since I was a kid I wanted to be in a movie like this with guys like Larry and Andy, who made The Matrix, which is just one of my favorite trilogies of all time. It's just a new vision, something you've never really seen before. It's futuristic, like Blade Runner meets Andy Warhol kind of pop art and just this kind of colorful world. There's something about racing. In America everybody has a car so everybody can be Speed in a weird way. One of the dangerous parts of the audition process for me was I'd get into the character of Speed and I'd be like driving home after the audition like (mimics racecar noise). You gotta be careful driving. It's crazy."

Slated for release on May 9, 2008, Speed Racer is being written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski, and produced by Joel Silver under his Silver Pictures banner.

Based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the live-action Speed Racer will follow the adventures of the young race car driver Speed in his quest for glory on and off the track in his thundering Mach 5. The film will feature other characters that fans of the show will remember, including Speed's family and his mysterious arch-rival, Racer X. The new high-octane actioner will combine the kind of revolutionary visual effects and cutting-edge storytelling that have become the benchmarks of the Wachowskis' films, bringing Speed Racer into the 21st century.