(Via MTV) Clearly Keanu Reeves has become perhaps THE go-to guy for cool sci-fi/genre properties in recent years (funny how a mega-blockbuster trilogy like “The Matrix” will help something like that). By the end of the year Keanu is going to add Klaatu to his roster of iconic roles in “The Day the Earth Stood Still”, but there could have been even more on his geek-friendly resume. Just the other day he admitted to MTV News that there were two other high-profile roles he recently turned down, in the form of Dr. Manhattan AND Racer X!
I guess I'm a little skeptical since the report names Uwe Boll (pictured left) as another director considered for the job. Uwe Boll, for those that might not be familiar with his work, is a B-grade director known for some campy films like Postal and Alone in the Dark. Not only is Boll not equipped to handle a FX-laden franchise film but he is considered by many critics, peers, and film buffs as one of the worst directors of our generation.Maverick Thai director and School of the Art Institute alum Apichatpong “Joe” Weerasethakul has been tapped to direct a sequel to Speed Racer, despite the fact that the Wachowski brothers’ adaptation of the beloved cartoon series has yet to be released. The likely megahit, starring Emile Hirsch and Christina Ricci, will hit theaters on May 9, but Warner said it wanted to get an early start on the next film to head off the creative doldrums the Wachowskis faced with their Matrix sequels.
“We love Joe’s eye, his disdain for linearity and the playful naturalism he brought to Blissfully Yours,” said one Warner Bros. representative, who requested anonymity for fear of incurring the wrath of director Uwe Boll, who had previously been considered. “The aerobics scene at the end of Syndromes and a Century moved me to tears.”
The rep also cited Weerasethakul’s experience directing one of 2004’s most memorable characters, the talking monkey in Tropical Malady, as good preparation for working with Chim-Chim, Speed’s pet chimpanzee. “Joe truly is a visionary,” he said, “and we are fully confident that his vision will be symbiotic with the Wachowskis’.” (source)
"ComingSoon.net has learned that Warner Bros. Pictures is currently planning to reveal the trailer for Star Wars: The Clone Wars in theaters with the studio's own Speed Racer on May 9th. We are uncertain at this point when the trailer would debut online, though studios usually bring trailers online that same week.
The August 15 release will feature such characters as Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padmé Amidala, along with brand-new heroes like Anakin's padawan learner, Ahsoka. In the film, Sinister villains – led by Palpatine, Count Dooku and General Grievous – are poised to rule the galaxy. Stakes are high, and the fate of the "Star Wars" universe rests in the hands of the daring Jedi Knights. Their exploits lead to the action-packed battles and astonishing new revelations.
The theatrical debut of Star Wars: The Clone Wars will be followed in the fall when the TV series premieres on Cartoon Network, followed by airings on TNT"
Emile Hirsch is Speed Racer(via MTV Movies) That’s a mighty claim, but it’s what actor Emile Hirsch is serving up with regard to his starring stint in the Wachowski brothers’ upcoming big-budget adaptation of the classic animated series. “This film has all these visuals and elements to it,” says the actor. “That’s what the Wachowski brothers, when they were making that first ‘Matrix,’ [were doing]. No one had seen anything like it.”
Go Speed Racer! Go!
Comingsoon.net visited the Las Vegas ShoWest convention which featured an in-depth look into the upcoming Speed Racer movie. Comingsoon's Edward Douglas had a chance to visit with producer Joel Silver and stars Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, and Matthew Fox."Essentially, a rich mogul has gotten tired of Speed Racer winning every race and he offers a million dollar bounty to anyone who takes Speed Racer out in the next big race. With such danger all around him, Speed's Mach 5 is upgraded to the Mach 6 with lots of new devices added to help counter the assassins' weapons and the extended footage included a lot more flying and spinning cars as well as some of the weapons that Speed Racer will have to face on the track.
The extra footage included some more expositional dialogue between Racer X and Speed Racer that hints at their relationship. One of the reasons the film might look so strange at first is that it's very colorful, but also, the Wachowskis wanted to make a movie where everything was in focus rather than the eye having to determine where to focus its attention.
It's similar to the way Robert Rodriguez brought Frank Miller's graphic novel Sin City to life, and it's also the closest that a live action movie can come to recreating the feel of a cartoon." (...more)
Speed Racer game screen shot
