Speed Racer to Hit the Big Screen

By Zeke Gervis

A new live-action, high octane family adventure will soon grace the screen, courtesy of writer/ directors Larry and Andy Wachowski, the creators of the highly acclaimed “The Matrix” trilogy and producer Joel Silver comes the “Speed Racer”.

Speed Racer is a story about a young driver (Emil Hirsch) who is aggressive, instinctive, and above all fearless. His only real competition is the real competition is the memory of the legendary Rex Racer who happens to be the brother he idolized. The death of his brother in a race has left a desire on Emile Hirsch or Speed Racer to continue the legacy that his brother has left.

Speed as what he is lovingly called by his friends and family is true example of a son who loves his family. He has shown his dedication and loyalty to the family racing business which is headed by his father, Pops Racer (John Goodman) who is also the designer of Speed’s thundering Mach 5 which by the way could use some Merkur oxygen sensor. The story began when Speed turns down the lucrative and enticing offer from the Royalton Industries which has infuriated the company’s maniacal owner (Roger Allam).

Speed was also able to uncover a terrible secret---some of the biggest races are being fixed by a handful of unscrupulous tycoons who manipulate the top drivers to increase their profits. And since Speed has not agreed to drive for Royalton then it will see to it that the Mach 5 would never cross another finish line.

For those who are familiar with the Speed Racer cartoon series you of course know what happens next. Speed to save his family’s business and the sport that he loves, he has to beat Royalton at his own game. And together with his supportive family and ever loyal girlfriend Trixie (Christina Ricci), Speed teams up with his one-time rival, the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox) to win the race that was responsible for the death of his brother---none other than the cross-country rally known as The Crucible.

The Speed Racer is scheduled to hit theaters on May 9, 2008. This movie will also mark the Wachowski brothers’ first writing/directing collaboration since the “The Matrix” movies. Producer Joel Silver who has previously worked with the Wachowski brothers on huge projects like “The Matric” movies and “V for Vedetta” will once again take on the challenge of producing the film Speed Racer under his Silver Pictures banner.

The stars on the film are the following:

* Emile Hirsch (from the movie Alpha Dog) will portray the character of Speed * Christina Ricci (from Black Snake Moan) as Trixie
* Matthew Fox(of TV’s Lost) will play as Racer X
* Susan Sarandon (Oscar winner and star of the movie Dead Man Walking) as Mom
* John Goodman (from the movie Evan Almighty) as Pops Racer
* Kirk Gurry (an Australian actor from the movie Spartan) as Sparky
* Paulie Litt (TV’s Hope & Faith) as Sprittle
* Roger Allam (from The Queen, V for Vendetta) as Royalton
* Ji Hoon Jung (Asian music star popularly know as Rain) will make his major film debut as a rival driver

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