South Korean pop singer Rain appears at a promotional event for the new Warner Brothers movie ' Speed Racer ' in Hong Kong , China , 24 April 2008 . Speed Racer is an upcoming 2008 film that is a live action film adaptation of the 1960 s Japanese animated series Speed Racer . The film is written and directed by The Wachowski Brothers who also serve as co - producers . The film had been in development since 1992 , changing writers and directors until producer Joel Silver and The Wachowski Brothers collaborated to begin production on Speed Racer as a family film so the directors could reach a wider audience . Actor Emile Hirsch was cast as Speed , the hero of the animated series , and Christina Ricci portrays Speed ' s girlfriend , Trixie . Speed Racer will premiere 03 May 2008 as the closing film at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York , USA , and will go on general release 09 May 2008 . EPA / ALEX HOFFORD EPA / ALEX HOFFORD < 저작권자 ⓒ 2007 연 합 뉴 스 . 무단 전재 - 재 배포 금지 . >