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Speed Racer Shot Mostly on Green Screen

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Source:  Empire Online
Empire Online is reporting that Speed Racer is being shot using only green screen and the occasional practical prop. We knew that the car chases were going to be CGI'd, but early reports indicated that this Wachowski Brothers adaptation of the popular Japanese carton was going to be shot the old fashion way.

Emile Hirsch told Empire Online, "It's all green screen. There were no sets, just us and the green background. I haven't seen anything of it finished yet, there was a lot of trust [in the Wachowskis] involved. It's going to be crazy. Was the monkey real? Yes."

Hurtling down the track, careening around, over and through the competition, 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 his 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.

Based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the live-action Speed Racer will showcase the kind of revolutionary visual effects and cutting-edge storytelling that have become the benchmarks of the Wachowski brothers' films.

Speed Racer opens May 9th, 2008.


6 Comments & Responses


November 30th, 2007 8:31am
this sounds ok. green screen is not always the best route tho. sometimes it can really look fake. lets hope they get it right.
 
November 24th, 2007 9:35pm
Go Speed Racer...Go Speed Racer...Go Speed Racer Gooooo!
 
November 23rd, 2007 5:06pm
Not to sure about this myself.but i'll just have to wait and see.
 
November 23rd, 2007 3:53pm
could be cool.
 
November 23rd, 2007 3:32pm
yeah not to sure about this.
 
November 23rd, 2007 1:08pm
Might be cool. Not too sure though.
 
Speed Racer
Rating:PG
Release:May 9th, 2008
Director:Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
Starring:Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, Hiroyuki Sanada, Richard Roundtree, Rain, Benno Fuermann, Kirk Gurry, Paulie Litt, Roger Allam
Studio:Warner Bros. Pictures
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