Christina Ricci Drives at Top "Speed"

Coming to fill in the blank in "Speed Racer", Christina Ricci has delightfully given her agreement to assume the role of the titular's character girlfriend Trixie, Warner Bros. Pictures' President of Production Jeff Robinov has officially announced.

"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," Robinov commented. "She is an amazing talent and we think she is going to do a great job with the role of Trixie."

Also confirmed to star are John Goodman and Susan Sarandon who will play the devoted parents of Speed, set to be played by Emile Hirsch. "Matrix" trilogy creators Larry and Andy Wachowski have come onboard to both write and direct with Joel Silver producing through his Silver Pictures.

Based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the live-action flick 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. Warner has set May 9, 2008 as the release date of the movie.