The newest issue of trade magazine
Video Business is reporting that an upcoming NickToons series,
Speed Racer: The Next Generation, will bow on DVD on
May 6th, just four days after debuting on cable television. The animated release of
Speed Racer: The Next Generation - The Beginning runs 66 minutes and features the voice of Peter Fernandez among the voice cast. Fernandez did the dialog for the Mach 5's main driver in the original 1967 show, but this time is only voicing "Spritle", while Kurt Csolak voices the title character of "Speed".
Lionsgate is timing this release (just like NickToons is timing the broadcast premiere) to coincide with the new live-action
Speed Racer film's box office opening on May 9th. The movie stars Emile Hirsch (
The Girl Next Door) as Speed, Christina Ricci (
The Addams Family films) as Trixie, Matthew Fox (
Lost) as Racer X, John Goodman (
Roseanne) as Pops Racer and and Susan Sarandon (
Thelma & Louise) as Speed's mom. It is written, produced and directed by The Wachowski Brothers, Andy and Larry, who have been behind the
Matrix film trilogy and more recently
V for Vendetta.
VB reports that the cost of
Speed Racer: The Next Generation - The Beginning will be $19.98 SRP. We've got a look at the cover art
VB depicts in their current print issue:
