Speed Racer

[MacGuffin]

Goodman, Sarandon on 'Speed'
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Susan Sarandon and John Goodman are in negotiations to play the parents of Emile Hirsch in "Speed Racer," the live-action version of the anime cartoon being directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski.

Based on the classic 1960s series that was created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida and retooled for North American audiences, "Speed" follows the adventures of young race car driver, Speed (Hirsch), and his quest for glory in his thundering, gadget-laden vehicle Mach 5.

The show revolved around Speed's family, and the Wachowskis are being selective about who they pick for those roles. Goodman is playing Pops, a race car owner and builder. Sarandon's character is the backbone of the family as well as the Mach 5 Go Racing Team.

Casting is under way for the characters of Speed's girlfriend, Trixie, and his mysterious archrival, Racer X.

The plan is for the Wachowskis, who are writing and directing, to shoot in Germany in the summer for a summer 2008 release.

[MacGuffin]

Ricci scores date with 'Speed'
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Christina Ricci is joining Larry and Andy Wachowski's live-action adaptation of the 1960s cartoon "Speed Racer" for Warner Bros. Pictures and producer Joel Silver.

Emile Hirsch, Susan Sarandon and John Goodman already have boarded the high-octane project, which is based on the anime series created by Tatsuo Yoshida for Japanese audiences and later imported to the U.S.

"Speed" centers on a young race car driver, Speed (Hirsch), and his quest for glory in his thundering, gadget-laden vehicle Mach 5. Ricci will star as Speed's girlfriend Trixie, his formidable ally on and off the track.

The show revolved around Speed's family. In the big-screen adaptation, Goodman will play Pops, a race car owner and builder. Sarandon is on board as Pops' wife, the backbone of the family as well as the Mach 5 Go Racing Team.

The Wachowskis, who are writing and directing, are eyeing a summer shoot in Berlin with a summer 2008 release.

[MacGuffin]

Fox tunes up for Warners' 'Speed' ride
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Larry and Andy Wachowski have added another two passengers to their "Speed Racer" vehicle. Matthew Fox is in final negotiations to play Racer X in the live-action update of the 1960s cartoon for Warner Bros. Pictures and producer Joel Silver.

In addition, Aussie actor Kick Gurry is in negotiations to play Sparky, Speed's hippie mechanic.

Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, Susan Sarandon and John Goodman already are on board the film, which will shoot in the summer in Berlin. "Speed" centers on a young race car driver, Speed (Hirsch), and his quest for glory in his thundering, gadget-laden Mach 5. Fox will play Speed's mysterious racing rival, an enigmatic soldier of fortune.

The "Lost" star will fit "Speed Racer" in around the series' summer hiatus.

The Wachowskis are writing and directing, with the studio eyeing a summer 2008 bow.

[Kal]

Mathew Fox? Not bad.

So far the casting of this looks very cool.

[MacGuffin]

First look: 'Speed Racer's' demon on wheels
Revvin' up the powerful Mach 5: The car from the live-action version of Speed Racer is based on the one from the original cartoon, but with a more modern look.
Source: USA Today

Emile Hirsch was 6 years old when he saw his first episode of the cartoon Speed Racer and, more important, caught glimpse of the Mach 5.

"It was one of the coolest things I'd ever seen," Hirsch says by phone from Germany, where filming will begin next week on the movie adaptation. "That's when I started thinking it would be great to be on TV. And have one of those."

Sixteen years later, he finally got behind the wheel of the speedster, which gets its first look here and will be at the heart of the film, due May 9, 2008.

"My first thought was, 'Yeah, they got the car right,' " he says. "That's one of the best things about the show, so it was always going to be one of the most important parts of the movie."

That and the return of Andy and Larry Wachowski, the brothers who are making their first directorial effort since The Matrix trilogy.

Like Hirsch, the brothers grew up on the popular 1960s Japanese cartoon about the adventures of a racing family — and its pet chimpanzee, Chim Chim.

"The TV show was the brothers' introduction to Japanese animation," says Joel Silver, a friend of the press-shy Wachowskis and producer of Racer and the Matrix films. "They fell in love with the genre. They said they'd been making R-rated movies their whole lives and wanted to do something their nephews and nieces could watch."

The film, Silver says, will have a "retro future" look and will center on Speed (Hirsch) trying to make a name for himself in the racing world despite the efforts of corporate giants to foil his career. The film also stars Christina Ricci as girlfriend Trixie and Matthew Fox as Speed's older brother, Racer X.

Like the Matrix films and the Wachowski-produced V for Vendetta, Racer "has a lot to say about remaining independent and thinking for yourself," Hirsch says. "The brothers weren't just looking to do the TV show on film."

Unlike those darker movies, Racer "is going to be very bright, very family-friendly," Silver says. "And it will have great effects like The Matrix, just with the car."

A car that will not see much time on pavement. The Mach 5 will be placed on a crane and most effects will be computer-generated.

One real effect, though: Chim Chim.

"They're using a real monkey," Hirsch says. "Just don't call him that. He's a chimpanzee. He gets upset if you call him a monkey."

[MacGuffin]

'Speed Racer' Plot Outline Released by Warner Bros.

Those fine folks over at Warner Bros. have sent Cinematical an official Speed Racer press release which provides a full cast list, as well as lots of plot info...


SPEED RACER


From writer/directors Larry and Andy Wachowski, the creators of the groundbreaking "The Matrix" trilogy, and producer Joel Silver comes the live-action, high-octane family adventure "Speed Racer."

Hurtling down the track, careening around, over and through the competition, Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is a natural behind the wheel. Born to race cars, Speed is aggressive, instinctive and, most of all, fearless. His only real competition is the memory of the brother he idolized-the legendary Rex Racer-whose death in a race has left behind a legacy that Speed is driven to fulfill.

Speed is loyal to the family racing business, led by his father, Pops Racer (John Goodman), the designer of Speed's thundering Mach 5. When Speed turns down a lucrative and tempting offer from Royalton Industries, he not only infuriates the company's maniacal owner (Roger Allam) but uncovers a terrible secret-some of the biggest races are being fixed by a handful of ruthless moguls who manipulate the top drivers to boost profits. If Speed won't drive for Royalton, Royalton will see to it that the Mach 5 never crosses another finish line.

The only way for Speed to save his family's business and the sport he loves is to beat Royalton at his own game. With the support of his family and his loyal girlfriend, Trixie (Christina Ricci), Speed teams with his one-time rival-the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox)-to win the race that had taken his brother's life: the death-defying, cross-country rally known as The Crucible.

Slated for release on May 9, 2008, "Speed Racer" marks the Wachowski brothers' first writing/directing collaboration since "The Matrix" movies. Joel Silver, who previously worked with the Wachowskis on "The Matrix" movies and "V For Vendetta," is producing the film under his Silver Pictures banner.

The film stars Emile Hirsch ("Alpha Dog") as Speed, Christina Ricci ("Black Snake Moan") as Trixie, Matthew Fox (TV's "Lost") as Racer X, and Oscar winner Susan Sarandon ("Dead Man Walking") and John Goodman ("Evan Almighty") as Mom and Pops Racer. Rounding out the main cast are Australian actor Kick Gurry ("Spartan") as Sparky; Paulie Litt (TV's "Hope & Faith") as Sprittle; Roger Allam ("The Queen," "V For Vendetta") as Royalton; and Asian music star Ji Hoon Jung (popularly known as Rain), making his major feature film debut as a rival driver.

Based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the live-action "Speed Racer" will showcase the kind of revolutionary visual effects and cutting-edge storytelling that have become the benchmarks of the Wachowski brothers' films.

"Speed Racer" is a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, of a Silver Pictures Production.

[MacGuffin]

Roundtree is fast friend of 'Speed'
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Richard Roundtree has cruised into Warner Bros. Pictures' "Speed Racer," Larry and Andy Wachowski's live-action adaptation of the 1960s cartoon.

"Speed" centers on young race car driver Speed (Emile Hirsch) and his quest for glory in his thundering, gadget-laden Mach 5. Roundtree will play Ben Burns, a racer-turned-commentator who is an icon to the fans and a hero to Speed.

Roundtree joins a cast that includes Matthew Fox, Christina Ricci, Susan Sarandon and John Goodman. Shooting is under way in Berlin.

After wrapping "Speed," Roundtree will join Vivica A. Fox in the national tour of the play "Whatever She Wants."

Roundtree, best known for playing the iconic character Shaft, recurred on NBC's "Heroes" and next season will reprise his role on the ABC Family Channel series "Lincoln Heights." He recently completed the miniseries "Final Approach" as well as the telepic "Point of Entry" for the Hallmark Channel.

[MacGuffin]

PETA not monkeying around with 'Speed Racer'
Source: MSMBC

There's more than speed racing going on on the set of Emile Hirsch and Christina Ricci's upcoming film. A chimp bit an actor on the set of "Speed Racer" — and there are allegations that the chimp was beaten.

"We are in receipt of information that may upset you," PETA wrote to the producer Joel Silver, the man behind such megahits as the "Matrix" and "Die Hard" series. "We've received several troubling complaints from people who have been on the 'Speed Racer' set and report that the main chimpanzee 'actor' has been beaten and has bitten one of the human actors." PETA urged Silver to stop using the live critters and switch to animatronics.

"We appreciate the concerns of your organization," came back the letter from movie company Warner Bros. "We also respect the vision and choices of the filmmakers with which we work. Every option on a film is carefully weighed, and for this production, the decision was made to use live animals." 

A spokesperson confirmed that a chimp did chomp on a young actor, but said that the actor was treated and the animal was given a rest. She sent along assurances from the American Humane Society that no animals were being abused.

PETA isn't satisfied. "No humane representative is closely monitoring those animals while off-set or during pre-production training, the very places where abuse is most likely to occur," the organization wrote back, "so we regret to say that the assurances you offer are meaningless."

[Stefen]

The cross dressing bro and the monkey got into a fight. H I L A R I O U S

[MacGuffin]

Wachowskis Go With Original 'Speed Racer' Theme
Source: MTV

In the grand-scheme of TV-to-movie translations, I've gotta admit: The idea of "Speed Racer" seems only slightly better than "The Honeymooners" and a few notches beneath even "Aeon Flux." Honestly, the show is beloved for the same reasons that doomed "Thunderbirds" - it's a tongue-in-cheek guilty pleasure, remembered for repetitive plot lines and laughably bad, low-budget visuals.

But here's the twist: The more we learn about what the Wachowski Brothers' are doing with their version of the Sixties anime series, the more it sounds like Speed really could become a demon on wheels.

"I just finished with the Wachowskis...I just came from Berlin where I was doing 'Speed Racer,'" Susan Sarandon told us over the weekend, talking about the flick that has her playing Speed's mother opposite John Goodman as the dad. "I can't even understand [what they're doing]. But I worked with the chimp, so that was really worth it."

Pressed for details, Sarandon revealed that the Wachowski Brothers have purchased the rights to the sound effects used in the cartoon, and confirmed that they will be using the trademark theme song. It's all part of their attempt to reproduce the cartoon in reality - but Sarandon admitted that she isn't quite sure what to make of it all, since she never watched the 'toon.

"Yeah, it's very saturated," she grinned, adding that the Wachowskis showed her a few minutes of brightly-colored footage before she left the Germany set. "I've only seen a little tiny bit of it, but it's much more complicated than 'Willy Wonka', in the way that they've done the backgrounds and all that. It should be fun."

The actress also elaborated on the innovative high-def camera the Wachowskis are using for the May '08 flick - which could yield a groundbreaking new style much like "bullet-time" did when they put it in "The Matrix."

"[All] of it is in-focus, the front and the back, because they're layering the film," Sarandon explained of the technique, which hopes to make the live-action resemble real-life anime. "You know, in a cartoon, everything is in focus, right? Well, we don't act like cartoons - we act like real people. But it's very saturated, the look of it - it's not an animated process over us, there are real people in this very bright world. Every color that was not in 'The Matrix' is in this movie."

[MacGuffin]

Exclusive: Hirsch Talks Speed Racer
The up-and-coming star discusses his character, his prep work, and working with the Wachowskis.

Starring as the lead of the new Wachowski brothers movie is no small feat. Then again, Emile Hirsch is no small actor. After his breakout performance in The Girl Next Door and his latest turn as a soulful youth who craves the wilderness in Sean Penn's Into the Wild, Hirsch is ready to strap into the Mach 5.

A fan of the show since he was six, Hirsch revealed that he watched every single episode in preparation for the role, even going so far as to visit Lowe's Motor Speedway where he hung out with world-famous driver, Jimmie Johnson, winner of the Daytona 500 and NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship.

But for the Wachowskis, you'll need more than just real-world experience. Hirsch admits that working with the extensive special effects took some getting used to.

"It's hard because there was real character work that he had to be doing, but it was against this green screen which is just tricky. It's real tricky to shoot on. You really have to keep the jokes flowing and have a good time. You've got to keep life in the room because the green screen will just suck it out of you. So making this movie with the Wachowski brothers, the jokes kept coming and we all had fun."

When comparing the famous directing-duo to his previous director, Sean Penn, Hirsch admits that the differences are vast.

"They couldn't be more different," he says. "They're just different people. That's what's so cool about what I have been privileged to do. The Wachowskis are very friendly, intelligent, funny dudes - very technically genius. Thinking that they invented The Matrix, that's just... wow."

In a movie with big stars and even bigger directors, Hirsch is determined to not let his character get drowned out. When asked how his portrayal of the main character, Speed, differs from that of the cartoon, he attests that he's trying to take the character very seriously.

"A lot of the characters are sort of goofy," he admits. "But Speed is pretty serious. I mean, he's pretty serious in the cartoon, but in the movie he's very serious."

The Wachowski's sure-to-be action extravaganza also stars Christina Ricci, Susan Sarandon, and Matthew Fox, and is set to hit theaters May 9, 2008.

[72teeth]

"The Wachowskis are very friendly, intelligent, funny dudes..."

"that's just... wow."

oh wait, he is still a dude, huh?
nevermind.

[MacGuffin]

First look at Racer X:

[Pubrick]

First look at Racer X:

no mention of the wachowskis AT ALL.

they're like hideous fucked up ogres that everyone puts up with only cos they're geniuses.

joel silver is their servant. there's a story in this somewhere.

[MacGuffin]

First look: 'Speed Racer' wheels into live action
By Scott Bowles, USA TODAY

When it hit the airwaves in the late 1960s, Speed Racer was pretty innovative television — for a cartoon.

Four decades later, the story of a family that works out its issues on a racetrack seems a little hokey.

So how do you please a YouTube generation that likes its humor ironic and its special effects cutting-edge while pleasing baby boom moviegoers who still remember Trixie's haircut and Chim Chim's jumpsuit?

The brothers Wachowski (The Matrix trilogy, V for Vendetta) take a crack at updating the cartoon with Speed Racer, which gets its first look here and whose trailer runs tonight on Entertainment Tonight.

The film comes after an uneven track record of big-screen TV adaptations. Transformers was a smash. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Not so much.

But Racer, says producer Joel Silver, has a trump card — or two, actually — in Andy and Larry Wachowski, the gadget-happy siblings who were huge fans of the TV series, one of the first Japanese cartoons to make it to the USA.

"The effects are beyond belief. We called it 'car fu,' because it was like kung fu with the cars," Silver says. "We couldn't have made this movie until right now."

But effects, he says, take a back seat to the Wachowskis' true love of the old series: the cars, costumes and message.

"It obviously has a present-day aesthetic to it," Silver says. "But it's still a great yarn about family and not selling out. That's an important message to the (Wachowskis) and why we all connected to the show."

Well, not everyone. Christina Ricci, who plays faithful girlfriend Trixie, first saw Speed Racer in clips in Geico insurance commercials.

She quickly received an armful of DVDs to acquaint herself with the Racer family, which includes a monkey, Chim Chim. Unlike stars Emile Hirsch and John Goodman, Chim Chim required two stand-ins: Kenzie and Willie.

"You'd think that would be tough, using live monkeys," Ricci says. "Now we're worried about them stealing the movie."






More photos here.