Go Speed Racer, Go! Wachowskis bringing live-action version to theaters

Larry and Andy Wachowski, the minds behind The Matrix and its unfortunate sequels, are gambling that a live-action version of the anime classic, Speed Racer, will resonate with moviegoers. The project will be written and directed by the Wachowskis, who are developing the film's visual style as they write the screenplay. Producer Joel Silver, who has partnered with the brothers on the Matrix trilogy and V For Vendetta, convinced them to take on Speed Racer during the filming of Vendetta.

Unlike their past projects, Speed Racer will be family-friendly, and feature racing sequences likely to showcase the brothers' knack for producing astonishing visual effects. All the characters you know from the animated series are set to appear in the film, which is slated for a Summer 2008 release.