With nearly 15 years gone since it first came out, Emile Hirsch opens up about his potential Speed Racer return. The 2008 movie served as a live-action adaptation of the manga and anime series of the same name centered on the titular automobile racer as he and his family are pulled into a globe-trotting adventure to bring down a corrupt business conglomerate owner. Alongside Hirsch, the cast for Speed Racer included Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, Roger Allam, Paulie Litt, and Rain.
Written and directed by The Wachowskis, Speed Racer initially debuted to polarizing reviews from critics and flopped at the box office, grossing just shy of $94 million against its $120 million production budget. In spite of this, critical favor has turned towards the film's favor in the years since, with many now considering it a cult favorite and holding out hope for a sequel to be produced. As Speed Racer nears a major anniversary, one star is sharing their thoughts about possibly returning to the franchise.
While speaking exclusively with Screen Rant to discuss the crime thriller Dig, Emile Hirsch shared his thoughts on a potential Speed Racer return. The actor confirmed his interest in reprising the role and expressed confidence the character will return, though noted he may not be the one behind the wheel. See what Hirsch said below:
You know, I'm very respectful of [The Wachowskis] as artists and whatever their vision they would want to have. So, I actually wouldn't feel right trying to initiate something like that with them. I feel like everything they do is totally from their own volition and from their own kind of will. I don't know what the future would be of it, I don't know. It's obviously not an easy film to just make another one up, there's so much financial mechanics that are involved in making something like that. The movie costs, you know, $140 million, or something like that, so you can't just go make another one, it's not so simple.
I feel like I just genuinely don't know, I don't think we've seen the last of Speed, that's for sure. I don't know if it would be the Wachowskis making it or someone else or another actor playing Speed, but I don't feel like we're done with that character. I think that there's a show that's being made, too, right? I don't know what company's making it, but there's definitely a show that's being made. So I'd be pretty excited to see that actually. I like the different forms, I love the cartoon of Speed Racer, I think maybe there's another medium, or TV show, where we can see it.
How Could Emile Hirsch Return As Speed Racer?
As Hirsch notes, producing a Speed Racer sequel isn't something that can happen quickly, given the budget required to bring the colorful world alive for the screen. Additionally, with the first Speed Racer movie having flopped at the box office, as well as Lana Wachowski's recent Warner Bros. reunion The Matrix Resurrections similarly flopping, it's understandable the studio may be hesitant to move forward with a follow-up for the Hirsch-led movie. However, with the Warner Bros. Discovery merger leading to the Keanu Reeves-led Constantine 2, another cult favorite sequel audiences have been calling for, being confirmed, one can hope Hirsch can get a chance at a Speed Racer return.
Even if a sequel movie doesn't get off the ground, there is another potential avenue for Hirsch to make a potential Speed Racer return. J.J. Abrams is currently working with Apple TV+ to develop a live-action Speed Racer TV show, and though it's said to be based on an unproduced script Abrams wrote for the property in the '90s, it could always be reworked to include Hirsch's version of the character, or even a cameo from the star, as well as fellow movie actor Christina Ricci, as a nod to the cult following behind his film. In the meantime, audiences can revisit Hirsch's Speed Racer streaming on Kanopy now.