Christina Ricci to Star in Warner Bros. Pictures' and Village Roadshow Pictures' ''Speed Racer''

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Christina Ricci has been set to star opposite Emile Hirsch in Warner Bros. Pictures' and Village Roadshow Pictures' new action adventure “Speed Racer.” The announcement was made today by Jeff Robinov, President of Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Ricci will play Trixie, Speed's loyal and courageous girlfriend, who also proves to be a formidable ally both on and off the racetrack.

In making the announcement, Robinov stated, “Christina Ricci is a young actress of extraordinary range, who has become a favorite of both critics and audiences in a wide variety of movies, from mainstream features to acclaimed indie films. She is an amazing talent and we think she is going to do a great job with the role of Trixie.”

Christina Ricci recently received widespread praise for her performance in the controversial drama “Black Snake Moan.” She also earned an Emmy Award nomination for her guest role on the hit series “Grey's Anatomy.” She next stars in the title role of the fantasy drama “Penelope.” Earlier in her career, she garnered Golden Globe and Independent Spirit Award nominations and won a National Board of Review Award for her work in “The Opposite of Sex.” Ricci's long list of film credits also includes “Monster,” “Anything Else,” “Sleepy Hollow,” “The Ice Storm” and “The Addams Family,” to name only a few.

Slated to be released on May 9, 2008, “Speed Racer” also stars John Goodman and Susan Sarandon as Speed's devoted parents. The film is being written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski, marking the brothers' first writing/directing collaboration since the “Matrix” movies. Joel Silver, who previously worked with the Wachowskis on both the “Matrix” movies and “V For Vendetta,” is producing the film under his Silver Pictures banner.

Based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the live-action “Speed Racer” will follow the adventures of the young race car driver Speed in his quest for glory on and off the track in his thundering Mach 5. In addition to Speed and Trixie, the movie will feature other characters that fans of the show will remember, including Speed's family and his mysterious arch-rival, Racer X. The new high-octane actioner will showcase the kind of revolutionary visual effects and cutting-edge storytelling that have become the benchmarks of the Wachowski brothers' films, taking “Speed Racer” into the 21st century.

“Speed Racer” is a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, of a Silver Pictures Production.

To see a video interview with Christina Ricci talking about being cast in the role of Trixie in “Speed Racer,” go to http://speedracerthemovie.com/.