Fast-talking: Hirsch, Ricci share thoughts on `Speed Racer'

By DAVID GERMAIN – May 6, 2008 - From: ap.google.com
LAS VEGAS (AP) — "Speed Racer" stars Emile Hirsch and Christina Ricci are better known for smaller independent movies than summer blockbusters.
Yet they could not pass up the chance to work with Larry and Andy Wachowski on the brothers' first writing-directing effort after "The Matrix" trilogy.
After the lesbian thriller "Bound" and their science-fiction franchise, all dark R-rated affairs, the Wachowskis have gone the family route with the PG-rated "Speed Racer," a live-action and computer-animated update of the TV cartoon series.
Hirsch, who starred last year in Sean Penn's acclaimed drama "Into the Wild," plays Speed, the young phenomenon of the Racer family, who gets behind the wheel to take on a corrupt corporate honcho ruining auto racing.
Ricci, most recently seen as a pig-faced girl in the fairy-tale romance "Penelope," plays Speed's girlfriend Trixie, who flies the skies in her helicopter to scout out the race course.
With the Wachowskis reteaming with "Matrix" producer Joel Silver, "Speed Racer" also stars John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox and a pet chimpanzee that's constantly getting into trouble.
Hirsch, 23, and Ricci, 28, chatted with The Associated Press at March's ShoWest theater-owners convention, where distributor Warner Bros. showed off footage of "Speed Racer." The movie opens Friday.

View Interview HERE