A “Speed Racer” live-action series is in development at Apple.
The project, which has been in the works for some time now, was given a series order.
Ron Fitzgerald and Hiram Martinez are attached to write and serve as executive producers and co-showrunners.
Abrams will also executive produce under his Bad Robot production company. Warner Bros. Television is the studio, where Bad Robot is under an overall deal.
“Speed Racer” follows the adventure of auto racer Speed Racer and his souped-up car, the Mach 5. His team consists of his father and car builder Pops Racer, his little brother Spritle, his pet chimpanzee Chim-Chim, and girlfriend Trixie.
He also frequently crosses paths with the mysterious Racer X, who is secretly Speed’s older brother Rex Racer.
This would be the second live-action version of the iconic Japanese character, following the 2008 movie written and directed by The Wachowskis and starring Emile Hirsch in the title role.
“Speed Racer” originated as a manga series created by Tatsuo Yoshida in the 1960s under the title “Mach GoGoGo.”
It was then adapted into an anime series that debuted in the United States in 1967 as “Speed Racer”. The show proved incredibly popular and is credited with helping to popularize anime in the country.
About 52 episodes of the original series were produced, with an English-language version of a Japanese remake airing on Nickelodeon beginning in 2002.
