Hirsch gets lead in 'Speed Racer' movie

Posted Wednesday, March 21, 2007 at 1:56 PM Central

by Tim Briscoe

I've you're an old fart like me, you probably thought the Wachowski Brothers went for Judd Hirsch (the guy from Taxi) for their adaptation of the '60s Japanese cartoon series when you read this headline. (You whipper-snappers may know Judd as the dad in Numb3rs.)

The siblings behind The Matrix have actually hired Emile Hirsch, the kid from The Girl Next Door and Alpha Dog, as the lead character of Speed in their live-action Speed Racer movie. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Larry and Andy Wachowski will start shooting the action flick this summer in Germany for a proposed May 9, 2008 theatrical release.

No word yet on the casting of Racer-X, Speed Racer's enemy from the cartoon series.

Hey, wait a sec! They should get Judd Hirsch for that role. If the Wachowskis can use digital effects to make Keanu Reeves seem cool, they can do the same for poor ol' Judd.