Speed Racer - Minx on Page 2

[Drtooth]

In case you're wondering what I mean, I found this bit of info...

SPEED RACER - Coming to theatres 2008!
Speed Racer (film)

Speed Racer is a 2008 live action film adaptation of the 1960s animated series Speed Racer. The film is to be directed by the Wachowski Brothers with a release date set for May 23, 2008. [1]
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Premise

Speed Racer "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". [2]

Production

In September 1992, Warner Bros. Pictures announced that it held the option to create a live-action adaptation of Speed Racer, in development at Silver Pictures. [3] In October 1994, singer Henry Rollins was offered the role of Racer X in the film. [4] In June 1995, actor Johnny Depp was cast into the lead role for Speed Racer, with production slated to begin the coming October, [5] with filming to take place in California and Arizona. [6] The following August, Depp requested time off to the studio for personal business, delaying production. [7] However, due to a high budget, [8] the same August, director Julien Temple, who was attached to direct Speed Racer, left the project. Depp, without a director, also departed from the project. The studio considered director Gus Van Sant as a replacement for Temple, [9] though it would not grant Sant writing privileges. [10] In December 1997, the studio briefly hired director Alfonso Cuarón for Speed Racer. [11] In the various incarnations of the project, screenwriters Marc Levin, Jennifer Flackett, J. J. Abrams, and Patrick Read Johnson had been hired to write scripts. [12]
In September 2000, Warner Bros. Pictures and producer Lauren Shuler Donner hired writer-director Hype Williams to take the helm of Speed Racer. [13] In October 2001, the studio hired screenwriters Christian Gudegast and Paul Scheuring for $1.2 million split between them to write a script for the film. [12] Eventually, without production going underway, the director and the writers left the project. In June 2004, actor Vince Vaughn spearheaded a revival of the project by presenting a take for the film that would develop the characters more strongly. Vaughn was cast as Racer X and was also attached to the project as an executive producer. [8]
In October 2006, directors Larry and Andy Wachowski were brought on board by the studio to write and direct Speed Racer. Producer Joel Silver, who had collaborated with the Wachowskis for V for Vendetta, explained that the brothers were hoping to reach a broader audience with a film that was not R-rated. Special effects supervisor John Gaeta, who won an Academy Award for Visual Effects for the Wachowskis' The Matrix, was hired to assist in making Speed Racer a live-action adaptation. Production was set to begin in summer 2007 in European locations for a summer 2008 release. [14] In November 2006, the release date for Speed Racer was set for May 23, 2008. [1] In December 2006, Silver announced the actual shooting location for Speed Racer to be in Germany. The producer also shared a computer-generated possibility: "I don’t know if we’ll even use any cars." [15]
In February 2007, the Wachowski brothers selected Babelsberg Studios in Germany to film Speed Racer. [16] Filming will commence on June 5, 2007 in Berlin. [17] High School Musical star, Zac Efron has a callback audition for the role as of March 11, 2007.

External link

* Speed Racer at the Internet Movie Database

Dear.... God.... no! I really hope that this would die like Sailor Moon and Dragon ball with all American casts, but it looks like this may happen.

I wonder if they'll pull a MWS productions and make Trixie (Michi) blond too.

[Mr._Mutant_Man]

I'm looking forward to it, as long as the Wachowskis don't have Pops Racer telling Speed that he is the one because the one is him, therefore it can't be anyone else in an attempt to make something seem deep that really isn't.

[DrSpengler]

I'm actually looking forward to this movie, all-American cast or no.

I'm looking forward to it, as long as the Wachowskis don't have Pops Racer telling Speed that he is the one because the one is him, therefore it can't be anyone else in an attempt to make something seem deep that really isn't.

Bwahaha!

I need to rewatch that episode of Dexter's Lab that parodied Speed Racer. That was one of their absolute best.

[Spitfire]

What did you guys expect? All anyone ever does is make remakes, sequels, or adapt old cartoons and comic books. No one makes anything originial anymore. If they do it gets a limited release and makes no money.

[AquaParade]

Bwahaha!

I need to rewatch that episode of Dexter's Lab that parodied Speed Racer. That was one of their absolute best.


Hahaha agreed :)

[Drtooth]

I'm looking forward to it, as long as the Wachowskis don't have Pops Racer telling Speed that he is the one because the one is him, therefore it can't be anyone else in an attempt to make something seem deep that really isn't.


Or having Pops tell Speed not to Race in the race because it's a dangerous race and not to race in this very dangerous race! AHHH!!! OOOHHH! AAAAAHHHH!!!

[ZariusTwo]

Well, at least we can hope they don't adapt THIS Speed Racer, as much as I actually enjoyed this one...what the f*ck were they thinking?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhLAOuRioZE

[GK Punk]

Yeah.. I remember that show. I don't think I liked it. I can barely remember though.

[Dr. Doom]

I totally don't remember that. Kinda like the theme song though.

[Raph's Girl]

Oh gods.... major casting news for the Speed Racer movie. Christina Ricci has been cast as Trixie!!! :o

Other cast members:
John Goodman as Pops
Emile Hirsch as Speed
Zac Efron as Sparky/Spritle
Susan Sarandon as Pops Wife

http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/1262.htm

[DrSpengler]

Wait, how can Zac Efron be both Sparky and Spritle? They're two different characters at two different ages.

John Goodman as Pops sound about right, though.

[Raph's Girl]

Wait, how can Zac Efron be both Sparky and Spritle? They're two different characters at two different ages.

ATM it appears that it's up in the air as to which character he'll be.

[Spike Spiegel]

Well, at least we can hope they don't adapt THIS Speed Racer, as much as I actually enjoyed this one...what the f*ck were they thinking?

I agree with you. Just from the intro, I can see how stupid that show must have been. They were trying too hard with the mutant things.

[Raph's Girl]

More Speed Racer casting news:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i24b21916578451e57aa4cf5cb1c856ad

Matthew Fox has been cast as the ever mysterious Racer X!

Aussie actor Kick Gurry has been cast as Sparky.

[Mecha Cow]

At first I read the name as Matthew Perry, and I got all excited...:(

[Tabularasa]

Don't know how Foxy will pull off Racer X but good to see he's getting roles. I loved him in We are marshall and showed some good talent that viewers on Lost take for granted every week with Jack. Hopefully this gets other people interested in him since this is most likley his last season on Lost.

[LogicDonny]

Matthew should be busy this summer working on speed racer and lost.

[Drtooth]

Well, at least we can hope they don't adapt THIS Speed Racer, as much as I actually enjoyed this one...what the f*ck were they thinking?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhLAOuRioZE

Considering no one remebers that fiasco (though I will admit, I liked it when I was a kid, and it was my first introduction to Speed Racer) I wouldn't bet on it.

Just as long as Trixie's hair ISN'T blonde, we're OK!

John Goodman seems a great fit, though... but I don't want to see this one at all.

Hopefully this can get somone to license uncut original Mach Go GO DVD's for the US.

[Raph's Girl]

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2007-05-30-speed-racer_N.htm?csp=34

Some news on the Speed Racer film. First up...Chim Chim's being played by a real Chimp who apperantly hates being called a monkey and gets upset (what? does he throw is poop at people?) if ya call him a monkey.

second up: The first image of the Mach 5!
http://i.usatoday.net/life/_photos/2007/05/31/speed-racerx-large.jpg

[Drtooth]

Looks like the real thing. Thank God they didn't take "creative license" with it, like a certain other cartoon car we know and love...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/db/Inspectorgadgetmobile.jpg/180px-Inspectorgadgetmobile.jpg

[RaphistheBest]

Wow. Just...wow. I never thought that a movie of Speed Racer would be made. Hehe, I wanna watch that parody on Dexter's Lab. That had the show down to a T. I can't image the melodramatics that are going to be in this movie. *Begins Speed Racer acting towards terrified sister* Bwahahahaha!

[ZariusTwo]

The Wachowskis have the leverage to pretty much control how faithful anything is, look at V For Vendetta, this looks fairly impressive.

Ahh, to see a FAITHFUL adapatation of something for once...good god, what a concept huh?

[Raph's Girl]

Casting news:

Scott Porter as been cast as Rex, Speed's brother, who fakes his death and comes back as Racer X (played by Matthew Fox).

So apperantly not only does he fake his death but he has a facial reconstruction surgery :lol:

http://www.comics2film.com/FanFrame.php?f_id=27265

[Raph's Girl]

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=41811

Warner Brothers released a more detailed description of its upcoming live-action Speed Racer movie, from writer/directors Larry and Andy Wachowski and based on the animated TV series.

This is how Warner describes the film: "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 its 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."

Speed Racer is beginning production in Berlin and is slated for release on May 9, 2008. It 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 also stars Oscar winner Susan Sarandon as Mom Racer. Rounding out the main cast are Australian actor Kick Gurry as Sparky, Paulie Litt as Spritle and Asian music star Ji Hoon Jung (popularly known as Rain), who makes his major feature film debut as a rival driver.

Raph's Girl note: This plot sounds like something that would happen in Nascar and probably really is happening....seems a bit dull...but Im willing to wait till I see the first trailers before I really have an opinion on it...but at the moment....Im not really thrilled. :ohwell:

[Mecha Cow]

Wait, his actual first name is Speed? That's pretty badass.

[Raph's Girl]

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=42062

Lionsgate has announced plans for its first animated series, a new version of the 1960s cartoon Speed Racer, Variety reported. Nickelodeon's 24-hour cartoon channel, Nicktoons, is set to run the initial 26 episodes.

The new Speed Racer series is set to launch next year, around the same time that Warner Brothers' live-action Speed Racer film, directed by the Wachowski brothers, is released in theaters. The two properties aren't related, but Lionsgate told Variety that the company sees the feature film "as a giant promotional vehicle for Speed Racer the brand."

In the new series, a young Speed Racer enters a racing academy for the fastest kids on Earth — and discovers that he's the son of the legendary Speed Racer from the original series. He also finds out in the first few episodes that he has a brother — the new Racer X — whom he never knew existed.

Speed Racer wows the school with his Mach 6 (an updated version of the original show's Mach 5) — the most advanced vehicle in the universe, which doesn't run on gas. Speed and X team together to prevent villains from stealing the Mach 6 and to find out who's behind the mysterious disappearance of their father.

Other characters returning include the original Speed Racer's younger brother Spritle, now headmaster of the racing academy. And chimpanzee Chim-Chim, who is now a mechanical robot.

Peter Fernandez, who voiced Speed Racer in the dubbed American version of the original Speed Racer, is aboard to voice Spritle.

Speed Racer first aired in the U.S. in 1967, one of the first Japanese anime-style franchises to make it here. The franchise was briefly revived twice in recent years, in 1993's The New Adventures of Speed Racer and 2002's Speed Racer X. Both series were short-lived.

Raph's Girl note: Yay....a sequel... :roll:

This article doesn't really say much...it leaves alot of questions that I hope are answered before this series premiers. Mainly: Who's the mother of Speed Jr and Racer X II? Is it Trixie?? If so...what happened to Trixie?! And why where the 2 brothers seperated? Heck why didn't the new Speed Racer know who his father was?!

[DrSpengler]

Well, at least Speed isn't fighting mutants like in the last American-produced Speed Racer cartoon.

The thought of an actual sequel to the original series and not a remake or reimagining intrigues me. The fact that they got Speed' original voice actor to be Sprittle is pretty cool, IMO.

But...cyborg Chim-Chim? Are they freakin serious?


Though I think the biggest travesty is that this is being handled by Nickelodeon. They same channel that completely BOTCHED the release of Speed Racer X, cancelling it after one month because they decided to ditch their action cartoon block and had no place to put the show.

And Speed Racer X was pretty damn cool, too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmBeLT5caGM

[ZariusTwo]

Speed Racer X had it's own abudencen of problems besides being thrown off the air, licensing issues prevented it from ever being finished. It was a fairly good "darker" version of the show though

The American Speed Racer was'nt bad, but it was'nt "Defenders of the Earth" quality either. Simply did'nt grasp the concept well at all.

[Raph's Girl]

Some more casting news for Speed Racer. Seems they've given Racer X a love interest. Her name is Minx and will be played by Nayo Wallace. I don't remember Minx in the original series.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117968366.html?categoryId=28&cs=1

[Drtooth]

Wait, his actual first name is Speed? That's pretty badass.


Actually, his ACTUAL first name is GO... his actual FULL name is Go Mifune. The M on his shirt stands for Mifune motors. The M on Trixie's shirt stands for Michi, which is her name. And the entire title is a bad Japanese pun. It's called "Mach Go Go," Go being the Japanese word for five.

I really hope someone somewhere can relase uncut original Japanese language versions of the old series, and it's little known Japanese 1990's counterpart. I love the show and all, but I can't stand how they have to say "Little do they know, Racer X is Speed's brother who disappeared years ago" in EVERY episode, like we're morons or something.

[DrSpengler]

I really hope someone somewhere can relase uncut original Japanese language versions of the old series, and it's little known Japanese 1990's counterpart. I love the show and all, but I can't stand how they have to say "Little do they know, Racer X is Speed's brother who disappeared years ago" in EVERY episode, like we're morons or something.


FUNNY STORY TIME!

The original Speed Racer series was very controversial when it was initially released in the US, not because of the violence content but because it had episode-to-episode continuity, something pretty much unheard of in cartoons at the time. Parents complained that it wasn't fair to require their kids to see every episode in order to understand the plot. They also complained that episodes which ended on cliffhangers would upset their children who wanted a complete story in 30 minutes.

So the psychotic amounts of recap and exposition were added to appease those parents.

[Drtooth]

Funny indeed... especially when Bullwinkle and it's saturday morning kiddy counterpart Hoppity Hooper (and Underdog, not owned or created by the Ward Team) were ALL serialized. In Bullwinkle's case, one story line went on for 40 segments, roughly 20 episodes.

[DrSpengler]

Funny indeed... especially when Bullwinkle and it's saturday morning kiddy counterpart Hoppity Hooper (and Underdog, not owned or created by the Ward Team) were ALL serialized. In Bullwinkle's case, one story line went on for 40 segments, roughly 20 episodes.

Indeed, which is what made the "controversy" all the more ridiculous.

I never did find out how that mooseberry bush story arc ended...

[ZariusTwo]

And Space Ghost famously set the bar with the Council of Doom story-arc.

[Drtooth]

Indeed, which is what made the "controversy" all the more ridiculous.

I never did find out how that mooseberry bush story arc ended...


Basically, the only way to get Gidney and Cloyd back to the moon was to have them take a Citizenship test so they could get on a rocket. But they failed, so they were deported... to the moon. And some governor got his arm caught in the door, and quick thinking by Rocky made him ambassadore of the moon.

[Raph's Girl]

Just a heads up that the trailer will be attached to Entertainment Tonight er tonight. So it should be on the Apple site shortly.

You can find images from the film at the link below.. And if the images are any indication the CGI appears to be bad....one of the race cars is painted up like the mystery machine. *blinks*

http://spoilertv-movies.blogspot.com/2007/12/first-speed-racer-pics.html

[ZariusTwo]

It looks like Lazy Town meets Tron

[Jester]

"Speed" Racer finally makes sence to me...:P

[Cure]

NOTE! This is all my opinion.

Well, I always liked Speed Racer cuz it was one of those shows that's so bad, it's good. It was cheesy to me. It looks to me like they're emulating that pretty well.

NOTE! This was all my opinion.

[Jester]

Well your opinion is....WRONG!!!!!

j/k I totally understand what you mean. :P note my "Location."

[Raph's Girl]

Welp... after seeing the trailer on E.T (doesn't appear to be available online ATM). Im definatly gonna see this film. Sure the CGI is all kinds of wrong but the story itself seems to be cool. After all any film with ninjas and monkeys is aok in my book (seriously tho... Ninjas?! :lol: )

[Drtooth]

HUH... Well they definately got the look of the characters down. It looks like it's at least well cast (Drudging up memories of Rosie O Donnal Betty Rubble, Mathew Broaderick Inspector gadget, and Jason Lee Underdog and Dave Seville). Looks a little too cartoony to me. Way too bright.

The Lazy Town remark hit it. But I'm still looking forward to it. Might just be a good adaptioon of a cartoon for a change.

[Raph's Girl]

Trailer found!

http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/12/07/here-he-comes-speed-racer-trailer/

[Drtooth]

Ooohh... Lks pretty good so far. Mayhaps a little too bright and cartoony, but it really seems like it will be very good.

I was kinda worried they'd all talk in stifled English, to copy the show....

[odupianist]

I never really got in to Speed Racer, but the movie looks good. One thing I noticed (As someone who basically read about Speed Racer on Wikipedia this morning) is that they're having Racer X and Rex Racer portrayed by two different people.

[Raph's Girl]

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0801/30/index.htm

LEGO Group on Wednesday announced an agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products to secure construction toy rights for the Speed Racer movie.

Under the agreement, LEGO Group will produce four constructible racing playsets under its LEGO Racers brand, scheduled hit store shelves in April, and ranging in price from $19.99 to $59.99. Many of the Speed Racer characters also will come to life in LEGO minifigure form, including Speed, Racer X, Trixie, Spritle, Chim-Chim, Mom and Pops Racer, Taejo Togokhan, Snake Oiler, Gray Ghost and Cruncher Block.

Wait... Gray Ghost??? Wasn't that Batman's fave superhero growing up???

A John Goodman looking Lego should be fun....:lol:

[cqb101]

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0801/30/index.htm



Wait... Gray Ghost??? Wasn't that Batman's fave superhero growing up???

A John Goodman looking Lego should be fun....:lol:

http://www.collider.com/uploads/imageGallery/Speed_Racer_Lego/8161_lego_grand_prix.jpg

http://www.collider.com/uploads/imageGallery/Speed_Racer_Lego/8160_lego_cruncher_block_and_racer_x.jpg

http://www.collider.com/uploads/imageGallery/Speed_Racer_Lego/8159_lego_racer_x___taejo_togokahn.jpg

http://www.collider.com/uploads/imageGallery/Speed_Racer_Lego/8158_lego_speed_racer_and_snake_oiler.jpg

[cross]

.............

[Drtooth]

We already have a Speed Racer movie thread. Can someone merge this into it, please?