Speed Racer

Speed Racer is an upcoming 2008 American family film that is a live action film adaptation of the 1960s Japanese animated series Speed Racer. The film is written and directed by the Wachowski brothers. The film had been in development since 1992, changing writers and directors until producer Joel Silver and the Wachowski brothers collaborated to begin production on Speed Racer as a family film so the directors could reach a wider audience. Actor Emile Hirsch was cast as Speed, the hero of the animated series, and Christina Ricci portrayed Speed's girlfriend, Trixie. Speed Racer was produced in Germany at Babelsberg Studios, where filming took place entirely against greenscreen. The Wachowski brothers also filmed in high-definition video for the first time, using a layering method to put both the foreground and the background of scenes in focus to have a real-life anime appearance. In anticipation of the film's release, marketers have prepared toys and video games to appeal to audiences. Speed Racer is scheduled to be released on May 9, 2008.