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Has Warner Bros Already Cast Their SPEED RACER?!
Hey, everyone. ”Moriarty” here.
It’s Christmas.
It’s slow.
Let’s run a crazy rumor, shall we?
Long time reader, first time contributor!!!
I currently work for Time Warner in London England and had the shock of my life today. 2007 Production roster arrived today at the UK's WB marketing slate for 2008. What stuck out the most was a production called Shaolin Cowboy by the WB. Now after a few hours of investigating with our LA team it turns out that Shaolin Cowboy (The Wachowski brothers first comic book title released last year) is a covert name for SPEED RACER to be directed by the Wachowski brothers(Hence the WB initials). Now in the slate doc it showed clearly in capital letters the name of Keanu Reeves under the main title. Not only does this show that NEO (A.K.A Keanu) is reteaming with the Matrix team but seems to be the main role.
If this is so, it looks like a great casting choice for our hero of SPEED RACER.
If you use this please refer to me as PAC.
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I loves me some Speed Racer!
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Too Soon! Second. Balonga!
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Too old. Speed was a punk, hot-headed kid. Get someone else. period.
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Too old....It just wouldn't be right...Too weird and not weird in a good way....I wonder which angle they're taking on this adaptation...cause this could go so many different ways...good or bad
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It's bullshit head to toe. The "Keanu Reeves" is just a red herring. There's absolutely no way he'd be the star- none.
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even a mo-cap Chim Chim. But Speed? I did, however, find out the key to a successful Keanu Reeves performance. Rotoscope him a la A SCANNER DARKLY and suddenly he's great.
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and i mean REALLY stupid
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He may make a good Racer X perhaps... but hes too old for Speed Racer. Maybe since Speed Racer is Japanese they should go the Japanese rout (Like that'll happen)...I think Shin Koyamada would make a great Speed Racer.
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If he is in, then no question he's Racer X.
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Liam Neeson as Pops.
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Oh wait- he's on probation for that whole DUI thing. Keanu is way too old- like creepy-uncle too old.
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You killed Ted, you medevil dickweed!!
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...what with the black hair and blue eyes. I'm drunk, so I'll be damned if I can remember his name. Help me!
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that kid that played short round in Temple of Doom. too old now? Fuck him for being born not at the right time.
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of course
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Makes sense...
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I don't picture him... just get some Japanese kid film the whole thing in Japanese and do some funny dubbing... Or get Jet Li or Jackie Chan involved somehow... whatever... you can't go wrong with this movie...
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Whoa, I can speed! Oh, I know Kung-Fu as well...
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1) Elijah Woods should be slapped around for having that one face expression for everything that happens to him... He looks like a dog who was hit and his now pouting... Kick the shit out of him... Get him off movie and into a vat of pure playdoh so he'll bear that stupid expression while he's gasping for air!... My god.. I'm so violent.... 2)Speed Racer... Why make a movie on this... Wasn't Fast and Furious 1 thru 3 enough? I watched it 4 times as a kid... And it sucked.. WTF!!!?? A guy jumping around in a fast car doing shit... WHY?!?!?! Keanu was great in Matrix, because it was so weird and kind of a newer/revitalized concept of no one noticing we are actually here kinda thing, so his "dazed" looks and stiff neck was perfect... But this... Man... those borthers really have their work cut out for them... They should go back and get whipped by some dominatrix instead of doing this movie...
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... OH! and who remebers him being on The Osbornes cleaning up dog piss or shit... He really looked like a retard... Like someone who was there on a special program to reinstate him into society without troubling his unproductive brain... Why do they cast him??? WHY???? LOTR - he screwed up 90% of the movie for me!...
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Wow, three stories in one night about scripts I read very early in 2006. That's exciting.
I hope to God this movie doesn't actually get made, even if the W's bother to rewrite what was an absolutely stupid story. I mean, story aside (it was, at the time, a soulless, bullshit concept involving Speed Racer taking place in a rally to smite the head of a corporation, a "clever" trick devised by Racer X to kill him on the open road, thus enacting a ridiculous "revenge" plot that you should see coming ten miles away)...does anyone really give a fuck about SPEED RACER? I'll always be surprised that 99% of anime actually has/had any kind of following in the first place...but SPEED RACER especially. I will never understand some of you. -
Keanu must not be Speed Racer. And don't cast Sandra Bullock either, numb-nuts.
Vince Vaughn might make a good Racer X too.
Natalie Portman is yummmmyyyy. I'm drunk. -
Damn you Michael Bay
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I agree. Milo Ventimiglia from 'Heroes' should be Speed Racer.
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Keanu would be ok for a supporting role, or for the film's
villain, but if Warner Bros were sensibly looking to do Speed Racer
as an action franchise of at least 3 films, Keanu is not only too old for the lead part, but he'd also be too expensive. Someone aged from 18 – 25 would be more suitable.
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Tom Welling from Smallville. He would really be a good Speed Racer.
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Are you serious? Speed is 18, tops. Welling's already too old for Smallville. Both Keanu and Vince Vaughn are too old for Racer X as well. It's Speed's older brother, at the most he should be 30 to 32.
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just sayin
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Topless mermaids and Oxy-gum for everyone!
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Keanu can play the talking donkey
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So long as the rest of the film/story is faithful to the original series. CGI Chim Chim anyone? Scarlett Johansson as Trixie? Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Spridle?
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Whoever suggested Milo Ventimiglia....kudos! Dead on, man. How about Rufus Sewell as Racer X?? He just needs to be in more movies, period. And there better be no flames on the Mach 5.
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Wasn't that his next movie?
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Come on the guy is over 40! Speed is like, 24, 25 tops! Racer X I can totally see. Back in the day ('90 or so), my old buddy Paul F. Tompkins and I sat around some beers and cast our ideal SPEED RACER movie. We had Johnny Depp in the title role, Winona Ryder as Trixie, Kyle Maclachlin as Racer X, John Goodman as Pops Racer, Glenn Close as Mom, and Macauly Culkin as Spritle (spelling on that one?)...and John Cusack as Sparky! Dude that woulda been great!
Keanu could be Racer X, so could Johnny Depp. I think you need a kid, not too matinee idol-y...howabout Shia LaBeef or whatever..no? ummm...waddabout Frodo?....nah. Howabout Fez? or Ashton Kutcher (JUST KIDDING!!!) -
My best friend and I had almost the same cast back in the 90's. We had Alex Karras as Pops instead of John Goodman. I think Speed should be an unknown, with Keanu providing "star factor" as Racer X. As to his age...hell, the guy wears a mask so it's not like we'll be sitting there the whole time going, "Hey, Racer X shouldn't have crow's feet!"
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Couldn't resist.
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The one chance to actually cast some teen heartthrob like they always miscast everywhere else and instead they want pushing 40 pasty-boy with no personality. Sandra Bullock for Trixie!
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Racer X mysteriously has no personality but is cool because he's a rebel.
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I saw him promoting that popular Disney Channel musical on Kimmel, and both the teenage girls and first guest, Ian McKellan, were swooning over the kid. He probably has a female equivalent that would be right for Trixie as well. If they are going older for Racer X, Jason Bateman resembles this kid. Of course this all goes for a regular adaptation, but maybe the Wachowskis have twisted the characters and need actors with more depth.
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These rehash projects lose their audience as soon as some worthless now generation actor is plugged in.
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Speed Racer is kind of cutsey in that manga sort of way, but he is a scrapper like Gatchaman's Jason.
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I agree with him too. Better him than the actor du jour that is here one minute and gone the next.
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I like that guy. Yack, there will be a monkey in this movie.
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They should kill him in the first five minutes. This ain't yo momma's Speed Racer!
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This should have been made in the eighties. Here's the juice: Charlie Sheen as Speed, Winnona Ryder: Trixie(She could do the laugh perfectly!), Fred Savage: Spridel, Sparky: Michael J. Fox(He had that "Let's go get 'em attitude.")Brian Denehey: Pops Racer, Inspector Detector: William Smith(Conan's dad.) Jean Claude Van Damm: Racer X.
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Please, please, please, just give the whole michael bay thing a rest would you? I'll give you credit for dedication, but for fucks sake enough is enough.
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You can never have too many monkeys. The monkey should be animated, though.
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A reteaming with the WB... This is definitely an interesting rumor...
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that when presidentbaltar writes "TOO SOON!" he's referring to his boyfriend's orgasm at last night's bukakefest.
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that 4 out 5 talkbackers prefer a damned Michael Bay.
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for a very low budget - get all the actual scenes outta the way, then for all dialogue, dimply take miscillaneous pics of the actors alon and interacting, and then just like the cartoon, have all the speaking done with just the mouth moving ala Conan O'Brien. With occasional eye blinks of course.
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It's like how Al Pacino gets top billing over the lead actor in his flicks. Speed Racer will probably be an unknown kid.
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Obviously Keanu's too old for speed, unless they plan to de-age him with computer fx.
Too bad we can't go back in time (yes with a delorean time machine) and cast Michael J fox or even Matthew Broderick. Either would be a fine choice.
I don't really know who the hell could play him today. Colin Hanks could I guess, but he's a bit too goofy. I don't know... -
been made in the 80s, is dead right. I'm too lazy to scroll up, whoever you are. This is a huge missed opportunity for great classic 80s cheese. Instead it'll just be a bunch of pretty cgi or some bullshit though it'll probably be a billion times better than that herbie movie with lohan.
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cast whoever the fuck you want hollywood. I'll just watch the cartoon.
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Speed Racer theme song performed by "Aerosmith." It would have been an entertaining film.
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Masi Oka (Aka Hiro from Heroes) He's very well known, and he'll draw in the Heroes fan base to see him. For Trixie, Gong Li, or Francoise Yip. They should keep the characters Japanese if they are going to do a faithful adaption.
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is chinese.
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Should rock though.
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I say Hugo Weaving as Racer X, and Larry Fishburne as Pops! "Pops! I thought you said driving on the freeway was suicide!" "Let us hope...that I was mistaken, Speed."
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Wasn't a fan (or hater) of the original series, watched a few eps here and there in syndication, but beyond character names and traits would this adaptation need to be "faithful"? Apart from Racer X and Speed's family, what continuity was there?Also as said above Gong Li is Chinese. Another thing: She is 40+ (still looks great though) so she is way too old for Trixie. Also, Françoise Yip is Chinese/French-Canadian. Not a lot of Japanese there! ;P
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Why make this movie?
Who is going to want to see this?
This seems almost as bad as the Underdog movie.... -
as Spock is actually quite an interesting idea. Although if they go with Damon as Kirk then isn't Franco too young?
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Non non non non heinous
(note the quadruple negative) -
Crazy!
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no more suggestions, please. For none could be better.
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and was brought up in a kibbutz. one of his parents is Jewish and come from isreal.
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She's got the lingo down to perfection.Ching chong ching chong zoom zoom zoom.
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He's not tall enough for Spock.
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enough to play Shatner's Kirk. Damon is attractive in a pugnacious way. He can be Scotty - but can he do a good Scottish brogue? Hah, I kid. But to the point, the Shat was a very handsome man. Franco is a good dramatic actor and naturally charming. He even resembles a young Shatner. Another good choice would be James Marsden. Spock needs to be someone who is physically imposing but with good comedic timing.
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It's the most obvious choice: worked before with the Bros, is a worldwide known name and can draw audience - mostly overseas and in Japan, is partly Asian. He looks the part. He is 40 but looks younger than that. Bet, after that rumor, that the guy will be announced as Racer X with a young unknown actor (with Asian background as well) as Speed Racer. And I bet there won't be any Chin Chin... and the movie will be crazy. After watching V for Vendetta I'm more than confident that the Wachowski can respect the original cartoon, keeping what is important and giving to it a great and modern look. KEANU AS RACER X! Bring it on!
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Franco has more charm and charisma than Jane.
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boy does he look perfect for the part!
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Too soon!
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I've seen Jane in several things, and my eyes don't lie. He is bland, while Franco is charismatic. I'll check out Rome guy on YouTube, tho.
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have the look, but when he speaks, there is something very tense about him. Nimoy's Spock had a very relaxed confidence, and that guy seems like an uptight British guy. Just my first impression :)
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As for Trixie being ethnic, I don't have a problem with this. She was rather generic, the outfit is more important.
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They're all WB-Bots who are 5'11 or shorter and are still waiting for their balls to drop.
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Fact.
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Ohh! Ahh!
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But it could work...
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Good thinking! But is he also too old?
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and you'd HAVE to cast Portman then so Wood didn't need to stand on a crate.
Nipples on Natalie Portman.
Surely Ewen McGregor has to be Scotty. Yes I know it's so obvious but it's so right! We can watch him get old and fat too! Not to mention the hilarity when he drunkenly whips it out! Crispin Glover for Spock. Hell, Crispin Glover for anything. The Bruce for Bones. Of course. -
Yeah.
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I could have bought Vince Vaugn as a Racer x, but I guess that boat has sailed.
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or Chim Chim.
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Joseph Gordon-Levitt, although if he's happier with a low profile and roles like in Brick or Mysterious Skin then thats cool with me.
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Speed seemed much younger than him in the cartoon the others above are right Racer X would make much more sense I hope Speed will run the bad guys off the road and into ravines and cliff faces so that you can see them die in their exploding cars just like in the show for kids but the important thing is that the dialog have no stops or punctation of any kind between sentences if they want to make it authentic for old fans like us right Trixie?
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And I'll tell you why - for a start, brits don't refer to London as "London, England.", secondly I'm fairly certain that Warner Bros. would probably veto Keanu on another role in favour of using something like speed racer as a springboard for another actor.
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can't read the posts if your curse is not there.
btw, great casting for racer X. -
30 seconds to get it done WB
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This just screams rumor that won't pan out.
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As I said before, if Keanu is in it, he IS Racer X! Perfect choice.
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Chris Klein play Speed. Face it, Klein is nothing but a younger Keanu clone anyway... so have him play Speed. Oh well. All I know is that the Alpha Team needs to be awesome.
In truth, the best cast would be Joaquin Pheonix as Speed Racer and maybe Keanu as Racer X... with Sam Elliot or Brian Dennehy as pops. Trixie should be played by some freaking flavor of the month, Spritle by the boy from Two and Half Men, and professional stunt drivers as the Alpha Team. Hehe.
My brain is melting. Why should I care about this!? If this was made in the 80s, I would have had Charlie Sheen as Speed Racer, Emilio as Racer X, and Alex Karras or Martin Sheen as Pops. Hehe.
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has the cold, dead eyes of a mannequin.
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If I ever read a TB and don't see your post, I'll assume something bad has happend to you.
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You know they will
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I hope so. :)
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and he'll fuck this up too. Why anybody insists on putting his non acting ass in films I just dont get. If he's ion it, I wont go see the films in theaters, and I'll wait till a friend rents the DVD to watch it.
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imagining The Wachowski doing "family entertainment". But, If so, expect something very different. BTW, KEANU ROCKS!!! BE RACER X PLEASE!!!
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...the idea is just "bullshit goats!"
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Chim Chim. I know that Chim Chim has been cut from the project. He should play Chim Chim.
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Dec 25, 2006 11:03:47 PM CST
PresidentBaltar...Fernandez did not make it campy...
by bob cryptonight
For example, the on-screen actions of, oh, say the Car Acrobatic Team are obviously silly moments that animators intended to be silly. Or the way Pops Racer would blow his stack like a steam kettle when he was angry! Not to mention Chim-Chim's goofy animated expressions. No, I think "campy" perfectly describes SPEED RACER. Which is how it should be!
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Reeves would make a almost perfect Racer X tho. Im down for this movie, cant judge till the trailer tho.
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And that was Feeling Minnesota. Matrix sucked. First one was annoying. Second one sucked. Turd, I mean Third, was a waste of time. Speed .... tough guy .... bullshit.
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but would he be a good Super Steer?:
http://tinyurl.com/wraah -
I don't know about the whole Keanu thing. He's just... well, it doesn't seem right. But whatever. I wouldn't mind seeing Milo Ventimiglia. Hahah!
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sion". President Baltar, whatever you do don't go near the Transformers tb spouting that stuff. You'll be eaten alive! ;)
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That's how they refer to themselves professionally now.
I just hope they cast Danny DeVito as the monkey. -
...poorly dubbed voiceover work, then the creators will have completely missed the point. And they better go all CGI for the monkey. Andy Serkis needs some work.
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I think Emile Hirsch would be a really good Speed. I also think that Keanu being attached means it's probably for Racer X, not as Speed. Someone younger, like Emile Hirsch would be just right. He even sort of looks the part.
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...the one who is the brother of the guy running for congress/senate/whatever. He looks a bit like Speed.
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i'm going in to read for speed on friday, so, i'm hoping i'm not just wasting my time at this point.
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