The Mach 5 is here

After navigating the development chicanes, the live-action adaptation of classic anime Speed Racer is about to see the green light flash as the Wachowski brothers start shooting next week.

And since they’re working with regular producer Joel Silver – a man who never met a film promotion opportunity he didn’t like – the first picture of the iconic Mach 5 car has arrived, courtesy of USA Today.

The picture - which you can check out below – is accompanied by the an interview with star Emile Hirsch, who apparently approves of the brothers Wach’s take. Which was important, since he was a fan of the cartoon series as a child. "It was one of the coolest things I'd ever seen," Hirsch blabs to the paper. "That's when I started thinking it would be great to be on TV. And have one of those. "My first thought was, 'Yeah, they got the car right.' That's one of the best things about the show, so it was always going to be one of the most important parts of the movie."

For more, including Joel Silver’s thoughts on the movie, click here .

It’s times like this that you have to feel for the staff of Entertainment Weekly. They’re the same company as Speed Racer distributors Warners, yet they get passed over for the exclusive. Still, this’ll be our private revenge for them devoting an entire bonus issue to American Idol.

Source: ( USA Today )