Speed Racer Enterprises reports a slate of new licensing agreements for the classic SPEED RACER animated television series and the new SPEED RACER: THE NEXT GENERATION, scheduled to air on Nicktoons in 2008. The licensees include:
* Jada Toys: die-cast vehicles, battery-operated remote-control vehicles, pull-back vehicles, vinyl figures and die-cast key chains based on the classic brand. Roll-out in Q1 2008.
Warner Bros. Interactive Ent.will launch the SPEED RACER videogame based on the upcoming film written and directed by the Wachowski brothers. The game will be available in 2008 on the Wii and Nintendo DS systems as the SPEED RACER film hits theaters. It will be released on the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system with the DVD launch.
Nayo Wallace (IN CASE OF EMERGENCY) has signed on to Warner Bros.' SPEED RACER as Minx, the girlfriend of Racer X (Matthew Fox), VARIETY reports.
The Wachowski brothers' adaptation is filming in Germany with a cast that includes Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, Matthew Fox, Susan Sarandon, John Goodman, Kick Gurry, Paulie Litt, Roger Allam, Ji Hoon Jung, Melvil Poupaud, Richard Roundtree and Christian Oliver.
Lionsgate has announced that its first animated TV series will be an updated version of SPEED RACER, reports the trades. Nicktoons has already inked a deal to air the first 26 episodes. The launch of the animated series will coincide with the debut of Warner Bros. live-action SPEED RACER feature, which is being directed by the Wachowski brothers.
"It seemed like the right time to do a revival," said Ken Katsumoto, evp of family entertainment at Lionsgate. "When this opportunity arose to revive such a classic property, we jumped."
Scott Porter (FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS) has been cast in Warner Bros.' SPEED RACER, VARIETY reports. He will play Speed Racer's older brother, Rex, who fakes his death and later reemerges as Racer X (Matthew Fox). The cast also includes Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman and Susan Sarandon. Andy and Larry Wachowski, who also penned the script, will direct the film, which starts shooting this month in Berlin.
Christina Ricci will star opposite Emile Hirsch in Warner Bros. Pictures' and Village Roadshow Pictures' SPEED RACER. Ricci will play Trixie, Speed's loyal and courageous girlfriend, who also proves to be a formidable ally both on and off the racetrack.
Susan Sarandon and John Goodman are in talks to play the parents of the title character in SPEED RACER, which will be played by Emile Hirsch, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The live-action adaptation of the TV anime will be written and directed by THE MATRIX's Larry and Andy Wachowski.
Created by Tatsuo Yoshida, the series chronicles the exploits of young racecar driver, Speed (Hirsch) as he jets out in his gadget-filled Mach 5 vehicle. Goodman will play Pops, the builder of the Mach 5, while Sarandon will play the matriarchal leader of the racing team.
SPEED RACER, the live-action feature from the Wachowski brothers, now opens May 9, 2008, two weeks earlier than previously slated, thus avoiding a Memorial weekend showdown with INDIANA JONES 4 from George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. In addition to opening wide domestically, the actioner from Warner Bros. Pictures will be released day-and-date in a majority of the international markets.
Larry and Andy Wachowski start production in May 2007 on their live-action SPEED RACER, based on the famous Japanese anime series from 1960, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The Warner Bros. Pictures release will be helmed in Germany's Studio Babelsberg, where their V FOR VENDETTA was shot.
THE MATRIX masterminds Larry and Andy Wachowski are set to write and direct a long-in-development, live-action version of SPEED RACER, reports the trades. The project will reunited the brothers with their MATRIX collaborators -- producer Joel Silver, exec producer Grant Hill and visual effects supervisor John Gaeta.
Based on Tatsuo Yoshidas classic 1960s anime series, the story will chronicle the adventures of the young racecar driver Speed as he strives for fame and glory in his pimped out vehicle, Mach 5.
With 2006 being the 40th Anniversary of SPEED RACER, Art Asylum will be premiering episodes of the new animated promos, as well as the videogame, upcoming SPEED RACER soundtrack and toy line exclusively at Booth # 3913 at San Diegos Comic-Con, July 1923, 2006. Each day of the show fans can come by and watch the individual episodes while they meet the team from Heroes Garage.
Apple ceo Steve Jobs announcement last week that Macintosh computers will embrace Intel microprocessors next year in an effort to improve speed and efficiency, especially on notebooks, has received mixed reviews.
Some analysts fear a rocky transition ahead and a diluting of the brand. However, others are more optimistic. This move away from IBMs PowerPC would allow the Mac to eventually run Windows at full speed, opening it up to more software choices.
Movielink has acquired the rights to carry all 52 episodes of the classic SPEED RACER animated television series from Speed Racer Enterprises. The episodes offered on Movielink will be packaged together and rented as 1 1/2 to two-hour segments. Current titles available include: "The Great Plan," "Challenge of the Masked Racer," "The Secret Engine," "Race Against the Mammoth Car," "The Most Dangerous Race" and "Race for Revenge." Movielink will promote its anime offerings through promotional campaigns, e-mail advertising and on its Website.
DIC Entertainment has sued Speed Racer Enterprises to enforce DICs television, merchandise and other ancillary rights to the animated series SPEED RACER, which is airing weekly on the Nickelodeon network. DIC is seeking damages of $5 million plus punitive damages and injunctive relief for fraud, breach of contract, injunctive relief, conversion, slander of title and a number of other causes of action in case filed with Los Angeles Super Court.
DIC Entertainment has acquired the worldwide television distribution, merchandising and licensing rights for the Japanese animated classic SPEED RACER. DIC acquired the license from Speed Racer Enterprises and Tetsunoko. John Rocknowski and his son, Jim, are the proprietors of Speed Racer Enterprises, who acquired worldwide rights to the property in 1991. The package consists of the original 52 half-hour episodes and 34 new episodes, none of which have been shown in the U.S. with English dubbing until now.
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Speed Racer Enterprises, Inc., owners of the Speed Racer property, have signed a license agreement with toymaker Playing Mantis, to produce a line of action figures and vehicles based on the popular 1960s animated series. Playing Mantis, a Speed Racer licensee since 1993, has already produced a line of die-cast Speed Racer products. The company is one of 30 licensees that will be manufacturing and distributing Speed Racer products in 1999.
Everybody's favorite animated race car driver is turning 30. With all eyes on Speed and crew, we decided to interview J.J. Sedelmaier about his award winning Volkswagen commercial and Elizabeth Moran's new book, Speed Racer: The Official 30th Anniversary Guide.
