Speed Racer (d: The Wachowskis)
 

Didn't even know there were talks of a live action Speed Racer but now I'm very excited to see Vince Vaughn up for Racer X
http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=5274

Interesting.

I can see Speed Racer as a big budget action franchise and I hope they go that way rather than as a comedy spoof (a la Starsk & Hutch). The comedy spoof is becoming tired since the Brady Bunch movie set the wheel rolling.

I didn't view STARSKY as a spoof. A comedy, for sure, but not a spoof. They even came pretty close at recreating the original series a couple of times...

But this RACER news is early. The film, if it's meant to be, will be at least two years away.

Re: Vince Vaughn as Racer X in Speed Racer
 

There was movement on it almost 10 years ago.. with completed car kits sitting in storage at the Warner Brs stages.

VV is good in anything he does. It is about time he steps up and markets himself in big time productions!

I'm at the point now where I don't care who they cast - just get on with damn movie already! They've been talking about this for years. Hopefully it will get made this time.

Go Go Speed Racer!
 

Wachowskis fuel 'Speed Racer'
November 01, 2006

By Borys Kit

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.

Just like there will be parts of the Matrix sequels that will never be able to be duplicated?

It makes snse, really. The Matrix shows off just how much the Wachowski brothers are into japanese animation.

At any rate, though, it seems odd to see this as their followup to The Matrix sequels; perhaps that shows how poorly-received they were. Spielberg didn't follow the Indian Jones trilogy with a live-action "Hong Kong Phooey", after all.

I liked The Matrix sequels. They weren't the end all of film making, but they sure blew away the last three Star Wars flix. Then the brothers were instrumental in bringing V to the screen. Which was criticized by some for not being the comic but (imo) they got so much right, much more than I expected, that I loved it. Let's just say that I really like these guys.

I would love to see this get made by them. I wonder who they'll cast as Spridle (sp?) and Chimchim (You can't just go with a chimp, it has to be a reeaalllly funny looking chimp).

LOL you're not gonna believe this! Wachowski Bros to direct Speed Racer starring.....
 

KEANU REEVES!!!!!!!

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/31064


If true, let's hope Keanu plays ChimChim and Elijah Wood plays Speed! :D

I heard about this a while ago. WB is launching it to compete against Iron Man and Narnia: Prince Caspian.

Could work...

Keanu isn't great - he works well within the confines of his ability, as long as you don't try to stretch him to far outside his actual skill, he won't sink the film.

Whoa...

i know....speed racing?

I never got the appeal of Speed Racer. I had heard Vince Vaughn was attached.

I think the rumors had always had Vince Vaughn playing Racer X.

Speed is suppose to be a teenager with great driving skill and not a 42 year old. Did these guys even watch the cartoon?

Will it be poorly dubbed just like the Americanized show?

Babelsberg feels need for 'Speed'
By Scott Roxborough
Feb 14, 2007

The Wachowski brothers are returning to Studio Babelsberg to shoot "Speed Racer," the high-octane actioner based on the classic 1960 Japanese Anime.

The Warner Bros. production is currently prepping and plans to shoot at the German studio in May.

Andy and Larry Wachowski picked Babelsberg for James McTeigue's "V for Vendetta," which the brothers produced and co-wrote and which screened Out Of Competiton at the Berlinale last year.

It is shaping up to be a big year for Babelsberg after a slow 2006 in which the biggest production was Berlinale Competition title "The Counterfeiters."

In addition to "Speed Racer," Babelsberg has snagged another big Hollywood production: "The Bourne Ultimatum," from "United 93" director Paul Greengrass. The film shot four days at the studio in January.

Another international project setting heading for Babelsberg is the Danish/German co-production "Flammen og Citronen" (Flames and Lemons), which features Danish star Mads Mikkelsen ("Casino Royale").

I'm cautiously optimistic. But the news of The Bourne Ultimatum already shooting excites me way more.

Merge this thread into the other Speed Racer one, since VV is not going to be Racer X, the title is misleading.

you didn''t like the english dub? I think it's cool.

Maybe a mod can combine these two threads, maybe also without the LOL: http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=371426

Worst thread title ever.