In the decades since Japanese animation broke through to the mainstream of Western pop culture, Hollywood has been eager to mine it for precious content. It's not hard to see why. Anime has offered us some of the most fascinating, creatively striking, and challenging entertainment of the past fifty years. Consider the cyberpunk body horror ambitions of "Akira," the space Western melancholy of "Cowboy Bebop," or the astonishing achievements of Studio Ghibli. Anime has exploded in popularity in recent years, in large part thanks to greater accessibility to the material via streaming platforms like Crunchyroll. One such series that has broken through in a major way is "One Piece," a comedy-action saga about warring bands of pirates that is almost as beloved in America as it is in Japan.
Netflix is bringing its live-action English-language adaptation of Eiichiro Oda's work, which is the best-selling manga in history and has...
Netflix is bringing its live-action English-language adaptation of Eiichiro Oda's work, which is the best-selling manga in history and has...
- 8/29/2023
- by Kayleigh Donaldson
- Slash Film
A “Speed Racer” live-action series is in the works at Apple with J.J. Abrams onboard as an executive producer, Variety has learned.
Apple has given the project, which has been in the works for a considerable amount of time, a series order. Ron Fitzgerald and Hiram Martinez are attached to write and executive produce in addition to serving as co-showrunners. Abrams will executive produce under his Bad Robot banner. Warner Bros. Television is the studio, where Bad Robot is under an overall deal.
“Speed Racer” follows the adventure of auto racer Speed Racer and his souped up car, the Mach 5. His team consists of his father and car builder Pops Racer, his little brother Spritle and his pet chimpanzee Chim-Chim, and Speed’s girlfriend Trixie. Speed also frequently crosses paths with the mysterious Racer X, who is secretly Speed’s older brother Rex Racer.
This would be the second live-action...
Apple has given the project, which has been in the works for a considerable amount of time, a series order. Ron Fitzgerald and Hiram Martinez are attached to write and executive produce in addition to serving as co-showrunners. Abrams will executive produce under his Bad Robot banner. Warner Bros. Television is the studio, where Bad Robot is under an overall deal.
“Speed Racer” follows the adventure of auto racer Speed Racer and his souped up car, the Mach 5. His team consists of his father and car builder Pops Racer, his little brother Spritle and his pet chimpanzee Chim-Chim, and Speed’s girlfriend Trixie. Speed also frequently crosses paths with the mysterious Racer X, who is secretly Speed’s older brother Rex Racer.
This would be the second live-action...
- 5/25/2022
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Apple TV+ is prepping Speed Racer, a high-profile live-action series from J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television where the company is under a deal.
Details are sketchy but I hear the project, written by Hiram Martinez (Snowpiercer) and Ron Fitzgerald (Westworld), is going back to the original source material and is a live-action take on the classic 1960s manga series.
2022 Apple TV+ Pilots & Series Orders
I hear the series is now staffing a writers room, with Martinez and Fitzgerald as executive producers/co-showrunners.
Speed Racer, a Japanese media franchise about automobile racing, first launched as a manga series titled Mach GoGoGo by Tatsuo Yoshida in 1966. Trans-Lux acquired syndication rights and Speed Racer was adapted into anime by Tatsunoko Productions, which aired on Japan’s Fuji TV from 1967-68 and aired in the U.S. in syndication at about the same time.
The show’s mainstream success in the U.
Details are sketchy but I hear the project, written by Hiram Martinez (Snowpiercer) and Ron Fitzgerald (Westworld), is going back to the original source material and is a live-action take on the classic 1960s manga series.
2022 Apple TV+ Pilots & Series Orders
I hear the series is now staffing a writers room, with Martinez and Fitzgerald as executive producers/co-showrunners.
Speed Racer, a Japanese media franchise about automobile racing, first launched as a manga series titled Mach GoGoGo by Tatsuo Yoshida in 1966. Trans-Lux acquired syndication rights and Speed Racer was adapted into anime by Tatsunoko Productions, which aired on Japan’s Fuji TV from 1967-68 and aired in the U.S. in syndication at about the same time.
The show’s mainstream success in the U.
- 5/25/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Christina Ricci is set to be in Lana Wachowski’s upcoming The Matrix 4.
In an updated press kit from Warner Bros., Ricci’s name was quietly added to the star-studded cast list. Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris, Jessica Henwick, Christina Ricci, Telma Hopkins, Eréndira Ibarra, Toby Onwumere, Max Riemelt, Brian J. Smith, and Jada Pinkett Smith round out the cast.
Ricci has previously worked with Lana in 2008 on the Wachowski’s Speed Racer. The movie was based on the novel of the same name by author Tatsuo Yoshida. The futuristic sports action comedy film also featured Emile Hirsch, John Goodman and Susan Sarandon.
The fourth Matrix is scheduled to premiere in theaters Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021, instead of April 1, 2022.
The Matrix 4 is written by Lana Wachowski, David Mitchell and Aleksander Hemon based on characters created by The Wachowskis. Lana Wachowski, Grant Hill...
In an updated press kit from Warner Bros., Ricci’s name was quietly added to the star-studded cast list. Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris, Jessica Henwick, Christina Ricci, Telma Hopkins, Eréndira Ibarra, Toby Onwumere, Max Riemelt, Brian J. Smith, and Jada Pinkett Smith round out the cast.
Ricci has previously worked with Lana in 2008 on the Wachowski’s Speed Racer. The movie was based on the novel of the same name by author Tatsuo Yoshida. The futuristic sports action comedy film also featured Emile Hirsch, John Goodman and Susan Sarandon.
The fourth Matrix is scheduled to premiere in theaters Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021, instead of April 1, 2022.
The Matrix 4 is written by Lana Wachowski, David Mitchell and Aleksander Hemon based on characters created by The Wachowskis. Lana Wachowski, Grant Hill...
- 6/6/2021
- by Brandon Choe
- Deadline Film + TV
Today at Comic-Con, Joe and Anthony Russo announced projects that their AGBO Studios are in development on: an adaptation of the 1978 Japanese anime series Battle of the Planets and an Amazon series based on the graphic novel Grimjack Comics.
Battle of the Planets was originally created by Tatsuo Yoshida and Tatsunoko Studios and was arguably the first mainstream glimpse for U.S. audiences into Japanese anime during the late 1970s. In addition, it was one of the few sci-fi cartoons during that era. The series follows five young orphans who are trained from a young age to form an elite, intergalactic team known as G-Force, swearing to protect Earth and its allies from otherworldly invading forces.
Grimjack Comics, is being developed at Amazon by Agbo, Halfire and it’s being written by Kevin Murphy the creator of Defiance, Heathers the Musical and Reefer Madness. The Grimjack Comics graphic novel...
Battle of the Planets was originally created by Tatsuo Yoshida and Tatsunoko Studios and was arguably the first mainstream glimpse for U.S. audiences into Japanese anime during the late 1970s. In addition, it was one of the few sci-fi cartoons during that era. The series follows five young orphans who are trained from a young age to form an elite, intergalactic team known as G-Force, swearing to protect Earth and its allies from otherworldly invading forces.
Grimjack Comics, is being developed at Amazon by Agbo, Halfire and it’s being written by Kevin Murphy the creator of Defiance, Heathers the Musical and Reefer Madness. The Grimjack Comics graphic novel...
- 7/19/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Created by Tatsuo Yoshida and originally released in 1972 under the name Kagaku Ninja Tai Gatchaman, the series later debuted with an English dub as Battle of the Planets (and unofficially called G-Force). It was followed by an animated film and two short-running sequel series in 1978 and 1979. The series centered around five young superhero ninja in the employ of Dr. Kōzaburō Nambu of the fictitious International Science Organization to oppose an international terrorist organization of technologically advanced villains, known as Galactor, from trying to take control of the Earth's natural resources. The Gatchaman team employed a unique style of highly violent and effective martial arts, developed by Dr. Nambu, that drew from their physical abilities to enable them to perform...
- 10/4/2013
- by Pietro Filipponi
- The Daily BLAM!
The full Fantasia 2013 lineup has now been revealed, and we have here the third and final wave of titles to share. Prepare to drool!
From the Press Release:
The Fantasia International Film Festival is proud to announce the rest of our 120-feature lineup that comprises our 2013 event, along with a string of additional details that mark our 17th edition as a standout. Fantasia will engulf the city of Montreal from July 18-August 6, 2013. Be sure to visit the Fantasia Film Festival website for detailed essays on every title announced here, as well as all films previously disclosed over the last weeks.
Before we get started on titles... Meet Our 2013 Juries
Main Competition For The Cheval Noir Award For Best Film
Jury President: Laura Kern (Critic, Curator, managing editor, Film Comment)
Jean-Pierre Bergeron (Actor, Director, Screenwriter)
Samuel Jamier (Co-Director of the New York Asian Film Festival, Programmer at Japan Society)
Jarod Neece (Senior Programmer and Operations Manager,...
From the Press Release:
The Fantasia International Film Festival is proud to announce the rest of our 120-feature lineup that comprises our 2013 event, along with a string of additional details that mark our 17th edition as a standout. Fantasia will engulf the city of Montreal from July 18-August 6, 2013. Be sure to visit the Fantasia Film Festival website for detailed essays on every title announced here, as well as all films previously disclosed over the last weeks.
Before we get started on titles... Meet Our 2013 Juries
Main Competition For The Cheval Noir Award For Best Film
Jury President: Laura Kern (Critic, Curator, managing editor, Film Comment)
Jean-Pierre Bergeron (Actor, Director, Screenwriter)
Samuel Jamier (Co-Director of the New York Asian Film Festival, Programmer at Japan Society)
Jarod Neece (Senior Programmer and Operations Manager,...
- 7/9/2013
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
Scheduled for theatrical release in Japan on August 24th, Gatchaman is directed by Toya Sato (Grave of the Fireflies, Gokusen) and written by Yusuke Watanabe (Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods), and based on the popular anime series created by Tatsuo Yoshida. Set in the near future, Gatchaman follows the story five special agents of the International Science Organization in Tokyo, as they try to protect the world from the mysterious terrorist group who call themselves Galactor. With technology far surpasses that of humans, Galactor has declared war on the entire world and has already subjugated half of it. Trained to draw out the power from the mysterious crystal-like object called a "stone," our five heroes will be called "Gatchaman." Originally released in 1972 under the name Kagaku...
- 6/21/2013
- by Pietro Filipponi
- The Daily BLAM!
Overlooked and Underrated Week begins at Trailers from Hell with screenwriter Josh Olson introducing the Wachowskis' $120 million live-action version of Tatsuo Yoshida's 52-episode anime series, "Speed Racer," a major critical and commercial flop.The film underwent 17 years of development, and involved such names as Julien Temple, Gus Van Sant, Alfonso Cuaron, J.J. Abrams, Vince Vaughan, Johnny Depp and more. Shot largely against Greenscreen at Germany's Babelsberg Studios, the unnecessarily convoluted plot confused kids and bored adults, but its brilliantly realized cinematics are destined to be cited as a milestone in the advancement of filmic storytelling techniques.
- 4/15/2013
- by Trailers From Hell
- Thompson on Hollywood
Imagi Entertainment gave us Astro Boy last year, and it wasn't very well- received. That wasn't the worst of it for Imagi, however. Financial troubles loomed and in January of this past year, Imagi started cutting staff and shut down its Los Angeles office.
The arrival of this trailer for next year's Gatchaman indicates that the company must have found investors for the film, which Imagi wanted to make in 3-D. There was about $30 million left to raise, so we'll just assume that money turned up somewhere.
The movie is based on an animated TV show by Speed Racer creator Tatsuo Yoshida, and before we get to the trailer (which cuts off at the beginning), here's a synopsis from Imagi:...
The arrival of this trailer for next year's Gatchaman indicates that the company must have found investors for the film, which Imagi wanted to make in 3-D. There was about $30 million left to raise, so we'll just assume that money turned up somewhere.
The movie is based on an animated TV show by Speed Racer creator Tatsuo Yoshida, and before we get to the trailer (which cuts off at the beginning), here's a synopsis from Imagi:...
- 7/19/2010
- by Colin Boyd
- GetTheBigPicture.net
Imagi Studios has debuted a new teaser trailer for "Gatchaman" at the 2009 Anime Expo which took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center over the weekend, and a bootleg version of the teaser has been made available for viewing pleasure. Providing more sneak peek to the anime adaptation if compared to the previous clip, the teaser explains that the world is in chaos because of one alien evil, Galactor.
Amidst the chaos comes a lone warrior who is described to be Earth's last hope for survival. Together with a group of teenagers recruited to form a bird theme superhero ninja team, he fights the menace of the technologically advanced alien and denies him of his attempt to take control of the Earth's natural resources.
Based on the successful Japanese anime franchise created by Tatsuo Yoshida in 1972, "Gatchaman" is directed by "Tmnt" helmer Kevin Munroe. It is still unclear who will...
Amidst the chaos comes a lone warrior who is described to be Earth's last hope for survival. Together with a group of teenagers recruited to form a bird theme superhero ninja team, he fights the menace of the technologically advanced alien and denies him of his attempt to take control of the Earth's natural resources.
Based on the successful Japanese anime franchise created by Tatsuo Yoshida in 1972, "Gatchaman" is directed by "Tmnt" helmer Kevin Munroe. It is still unclear who will...
- 7/7/2009
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
A “Gatchaman” fan blog has leaked the first poster from the upcoming CGI-adaptation of the beloved Japanese anime franchise “Science Ninja Team Gatchaman”, which you can check out below. The poster features Joe Asakura, the ninja scientists’ team second-in-command. “Gatchaman” is about a future world plagued with both environmental as well as technology problems, and five reluctant heroes with a remarkable genetic makeup must become Earth’s defense against extraterrestrial invaders bent on conquest. Science Ninja Team Gatchaman is a superhero team which was created by Tatsuo Yoshida and originally produced in Japan, and later adapted into several English-language versions. The original series, produced in 1972, is most well-known in the [...]...
- 3/26/2009
- by Costa Koutsoutis
- ShockYa
Year: 2009
DVD Release date: Unknown
Directors: Takashi Miike
Writers: Tatsuo Yoshida
IMDb: link
Trailer: link
Review by: Bob Doto
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Manhattan is a city of numbered blocks divided into streets and avenues. Streets are short. They take one minute to traverse. Avenues are long. They take four minutes of "Are we still only at 6th?" to traverse. So, when I walked down 57th St. approaching the Director’s Guild Theater for the World Premiere of Takashi Miike’s much anticipated film Yatterman and came upon an entire avenue of people cued up, I was walking passed four minutes worth of people! That was an hour-and-half before the doors even opened. By the time 8pm rolled around there could’ve been ten minutes of people for all I knew. I didn’t know. I’m press, so, ‘scuse me, pardon me. I have a ticket. I go in first.
DVD Release date: Unknown
Directors: Takashi Miike
Writers: Tatsuo Yoshida
IMDb: link
Trailer: link
Review by: Bob Doto
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Manhattan is a city of numbered blocks divided into streets and avenues. Streets are short. They take one minute to traverse. Avenues are long. They take four minutes of "Are we still only at 6th?" to traverse. So, when I walked down 57th St. approaching the Director’s Guild Theater for the World Premiere of Takashi Miike’s much anticipated film Yatterman and came upon an entire avenue of people cued up, I was walking passed four minutes worth of people! That was an hour-and-half before the doors even opened. By the time 8pm rolled around there could’ve been ten minutes of people for all I knew. I didn’t know. I’m press, so, ‘scuse me, pardon me. I have a ticket. I go in first.
- 2/8/2009
- QuietEarth.us
A ten-second clip of the upcoming CGI movie from Imagi Animation Studios, "Gatchaman", has been brought forward. Showing a car racing down a crowded street and making a sudden turn-over, the snippet exposes very little of the plot if none. Still, it presents fans and viewers the last part of the trailer.
Aside from the clip, several new images from this animation movie have been shared out through Imagi's official site. Six of the brand new photos revealing the visually artistic look into the movie are posted below.
Based on the successful Japanese anime franchise created by Tatsuo Yoshida in 1972, "Gatchaman" tells the story of five reluctant heroes, Ken, Joe, Jun, Jinpei and Ryu, who become Earth's only defendant from the Galactor terrorist group. The Warner Bros. animation originally set to be directed by "Tmnt" helmer Kevin Munroe is slated for 2009 release.
"Gatchaman" 10 Seconds Clip:...
Aside from the clip, several new images from this animation movie have been shared out through Imagi's official site. Six of the brand new photos revealing the visually artistic look into the movie are posted below.
Based on the successful Japanese anime franchise created by Tatsuo Yoshida in 1972, "Gatchaman" tells the story of five reluctant heroes, Ken, Joe, Jun, Jinpei and Ryu, who become Earth's only defendant from the Galactor terrorist group. The Warner Bros. animation originally set to be directed by "Tmnt" helmer Kevin Munroe is slated for 2009 release.
"Gatchaman" 10 Seconds Clip:...
- 9/8/2008
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
TORONTO -- The Wachowski brothers and Warner Bros. Pictures, whose Matrix films and V for Vendetta had runs on Imax screens, are reteaming with the giant-screen exhibitor for Speed Racer.
Imax said Tuesday that a digitally remastered version of the live-action anime adaptation will be simultaneously released to Imax and conventional theaters on May 9.
Based on the Japanese series created by Tatsuo Yoshida, Speed Racer was written and directed by Andy and Larry Wachowski.
Imax said Tuesday that a digitally remastered version of the live-action anime adaptation will be simultaneously released to Imax and conventional theaters on May 9.
Based on the Japanese series created by Tatsuo Yoshida, Speed Racer was written and directed by Andy and Larry Wachowski.
NEW YORK -- Licensing Show opens Tuesday amid concern that there are few, if any, major blockbusters slated for 2008 that can match the enormous merchandising success of this summer's megahits "Spider-Man 3", "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" and "Shrek the Third" as well as the highly anticipated "Transformers".
But with CBS hosting its first booth ever at Licensing Show and increased primetime offerings from NBC and ABC, the major networks are making their strongest showing yet, with more opportunities for primetime licensing. Fox, which through 20th Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising has had a strong presence at the show for years with "The Simpsons", is back in full force as "The Simpsons Movie" opens in theaters in July.
"It's going to be very, very difficult across all product categories to match the (retail) numbers against this year," said Jonathan Samet, publisher of the Licensing Book and the Toy Book. "There are just not that many 'Spider-Mans' and 'Pirates' out there. A lot of the studios really just don't have anything new on the horizon from a merchandising standpoint. With the lineup that's coming out next year, I don't see anything that's going to match the merchandising numbers from this summer."
One sign of the less robust film merchandising slate for 2008 is the decline in studio ads in the Licensing Book, he said. "I don't have as much movie advertising in my publication. Our advertising is up, but it's not from the same big studios that used to take four, six and eight pages at a time because they don't have the properties to be promoting at this time."
Charles Riotto, president of LIMA, the licensing industry's worldwide trade organization and sponsor of the Licensing Show, said he was expecting 2007 to be "the biggest year ever for sales of entertainment-based licensing merchandise because of all the blockbuster movies we've had this year and all the ones that are still to come like 'Transformers, ' 'The Simpsons Movie, ' and 'Ratatouille.' I don't think we've ever had a year like this where we've had so many great movies with such significant licensing sales potential."
Riotto is also set to report at the show Tuesday that U.S. retail sales of licensed product were up 1.5% in 2006 to $108.7 billion, a slightly smaller increase than the 1.8% rise reported in 2005. Entertainment licensing fared better but still experienced a bigger percentage gain in 2005. U.S. retail sales of entertainment-based licensed product rose 2% in 2006 to $48.2 billion, up from $47.3 billion in 2005, when sales rose 2.4%.
Of all the major studio offerings, the two films drawing the most interest so far are both from Warner Bros. –- the Batman sequel "The Dark Knight" and "Speed Racer", a live-action movie based on the TV series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida. The film, set for release in May, marks a reunion for directors Larry and Andy Wachowski and producer Joel Silver, who last worked together on the "Matrix" trilogy. But with the "Batman" sequel being described as a bit dark, there was concern it could limit sales among younger children who may not see the film. "The Incredible Hulk" from Marvel also is attracting some interest going into the show.
But for the most part retailers and licensees will be working very hard at the show this year to figure out the best bets for boxoffice and merchandising success in 2008. "I think retailers are going to be looking to figure out how to anniversary some pretty significant sales they had in 2007," said Vince Klaseus, senior vp franchise development and marketing at Disney Consumer Products.
But with CBS hosting its first booth ever at Licensing Show and increased primetime offerings from NBC and ABC, the major networks are making their strongest showing yet, with more opportunities for primetime licensing. Fox, which through 20th Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising has had a strong presence at the show for years with "The Simpsons", is back in full force as "The Simpsons Movie" opens in theaters in July.
"It's going to be very, very difficult across all product categories to match the (retail) numbers against this year," said Jonathan Samet, publisher of the Licensing Book and the Toy Book. "There are just not that many 'Spider-Mans' and 'Pirates' out there. A lot of the studios really just don't have anything new on the horizon from a merchandising standpoint. With the lineup that's coming out next year, I don't see anything that's going to match the merchandising numbers from this summer."
One sign of the less robust film merchandising slate for 2008 is the decline in studio ads in the Licensing Book, he said. "I don't have as much movie advertising in my publication. Our advertising is up, but it's not from the same big studios that used to take four, six and eight pages at a time because they don't have the properties to be promoting at this time."
Charles Riotto, president of LIMA, the licensing industry's worldwide trade organization and sponsor of the Licensing Show, said he was expecting 2007 to be "the biggest year ever for sales of entertainment-based licensing merchandise because of all the blockbuster movies we've had this year and all the ones that are still to come like 'Transformers, ' 'The Simpsons Movie, ' and 'Ratatouille.' I don't think we've ever had a year like this where we've had so many great movies with such significant licensing sales potential."
Riotto is also set to report at the show Tuesday that U.S. retail sales of licensed product were up 1.5% in 2006 to $108.7 billion, a slightly smaller increase than the 1.8% rise reported in 2005. Entertainment licensing fared better but still experienced a bigger percentage gain in 2005. U.S. retail sales of entertainment-based licensed product rose 2% in 2006 to $48.2 billion, up from $47.3 billion in 2005, when sales rose 2.4%.
Of all the major studio offerings, the two films drawing the most interest so far are both from Warner Bros. –- the Batman sequel "The Dark Knight" and "Speed Racer", a live-action movie based on the TV series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida. The film, set for release in May, marks a reunion for directors Larry and Andy Wachowski and producer Joel Silver, who last worked together on the "Matrix" trilogy. But with the "Batman" sequel being described as a bit dark, there was concern it could limit sales among younger children who may not see the film. "The Incredible Hulk" from Marvel also is attracting some interest going into the show.
But for the most part retailers and licensees will be working very hard at the show this year to figure out the best bets for boxoffice and merchandising success in 2008. "I think retailers are going to be looking to figure out how to anniversary some pretty significant sales they had in 2007," said Vince Klaseus, senior vp franchise development and marketing at Disney Consumer Products.
- 6/19/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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.
The film, which is based on the anime series created by Tatsuo Yoshida, will be a Warners presentation in association with Village Roadshow Pictures of a Silver Pictures production.
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.
The film, which is based on the anime series created by Tatsuo Yoshida, will be a Warners presentation in association with Village Roadshow Pictures of a Silver Pictures production.
- 4/19/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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.
The film will be a Warners presentation in association with Village Roadshow Pictures of a Silver Pictures production.
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.
The film will be a Warners presentation in association with Village Roadshow Pictures of a Silver Pictures production.
- 4/13/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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.
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.
Emile Hirsch is in talks to star in Speed Racer, the live-action version of the anime cartoon being directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski.
Based on the classic 1960s series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida that was retooled for North American audiences, Speed Racer follows the adventures of young race car driver Speed (Hirsch) 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 arch-rival, Racer X.
The plan is for the Wachowskis to shoot in Germany in the summer for a summer 2008 release.
Hirsch most recently starred in Alpha Dog and next appears in Sean Penn's Into the Wild, which Paramount Vantage is distributing in the fall. Other credits include Lord of Dogtown and The Girl Next Door.
Joel Silver is producing the film, which the Wachowskis are writing as well as directing. Speed will be a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation in association with Village Roadshow Pictures of a Silver Pictures production.
Based on the classic 1960s series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida that was retooled for North American audiences, Speed Racer follows the adventures of young race car driver Speed (Hirsch) 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 arch-rival, Racer X.
The plan is for the Wachowskis to shoot in Germany in the summer for a summer 2008 release.
Hirsch most recently starred in Alpha Dog and next appears in Sean Penn's Into the Wild, which Paramount Vantage is distributing in the fall. Other credits include Lord of Dogtown and The Girl Next Door.
Joel Silver is producing the film, which the Wachowskis are writing as well as directing. Speed will be a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation in association with Village Roadshow Pictures of a Silver Pictures production.
- 3/21/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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