New Line making Speedy Gonzales film; George Lopez to voice character

By Jay A. Fernandez

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Speedy Gonzales is taking his folk hero status, incredible speed and signature red kerchief to the big screen, courtesy of New Line. "Garfield" scribes Alec Sokolow and Joel Cohen will adapt the classic animated Looney Tunes character into a live-action/CG hybrid feature, with George Lopez attached to voice Speedy.

Lopez, Ann Lopez and Lynnette Ramirez are producing for George Lopez Presents, along with "Ocean's Eleven" producer Jerry Weintraub, Tracy Ryerson and Jill Arthur. New Line execs Michele Weiss and Sam Brown are shepherding for the studio.

Known as the fastest mouse in all of Mexico, Speedy debuted in the 1950s as a regular nemesis of Sylvester the Cat. Friz Freleng and Hawley Pratt's 1955 Warner Bros. short about the tiny hero, "Speedy Gonzales," won the Academy Award for best short subject, cartoons that year. Pat Boone even wrote a hit song about the famous mouse in 1962.

Over the years, Speedy appeared in the live-action/animation features "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," "Space Jam" and "Looney Tunes: Back in Action." But the character has often courted criticism that the ethnic characterizations of him and his compatriots (especially lazy cousin Slowpoke Rodriguez) are stereotypically racist and severely outdated.

Aware of this, New Line and the producers plan to update the brand with a modernized sensibility (it takes place in present day) under what Ann Lopez calls George's "Latino seal of approval." (No need to throw fuel on the fire that serves as an immigration debate in this country.)

"We wanted to make sure that it was not the Speedy of the 1950s -- the racist Speedy," Ann Lopez said with a chuckle. "Speedy's going to be a misunderstood boy who comes from a family that works in a very meticulous setting, and he's a little too fast for what they do. He makes a mess of that. So he has to go out in the world to find what he's good at."

That path becomes clearer once Speedy befriends a gun-shy race-car driver.

Sokolow and Cohen, repped by CAA and the Gotham Group, co-wrote "Toy Story," "Money Talks," "Goodbye Lover," "Cheaper by the Dozen" and "Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties." The pair has "Walter the Farting Dog" in development at Fox, with the Jonas Brothers starring and the Farrelly Bros. directing.

The CAA-repped Lopez hosts "Lopez Tonight" on TBS and appears in New Line's recent ensemble hit "Valentine's Day," which has grossed $158 million worldwide. He also recently starred in "The Spy Next Door" and provided a voice for "Beverly Hills Chihuahua."

Weintraub has the remake of "The Karate Kid" coming out from Columbia in June.

Comments

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[Joe]

I weep for humanity.

[Jason]

A little too early for April fool's don't ya think?

[Marcos Zapata]

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This would sum up for an interesting article. With the inclusion of names like George Lopez all set to voice the character of Speedy Gonzales, would be the talk of the town. Looks like some is gonna gamble on this.

[StellaT]

That dude will do any demeaning ish for a check.

[Matt t]

bad bad bad idea...I cannot fathom hearing Lopez in Speedy's body

[tino]

Glad to see speedy get the spotlight since im a huge fan BUT WTF is this !!!

""We wanted to make sure that it was not the Speedy of the 1950s -- the racist Speedy,"

Uhhhhh this movie will suck > worse than Garfield ,, and OMG > I find it ironic that my fellow latino's can have 'latino comedy shows' which point out our stereotypes candidly, yet , cannot laugh at a caricature doing the same thing.. FML

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Thats sounds wonderful that now we would be watching his new and latest work on the big screen.There are some people and companies who becomes so offensive regardless of the context.Speedy Gonzales is winner for sure.

[Mrryn1982]

A new Speedy movie would have been great if they used the 50s Speedy. Speedy isnt Speedy if he is politically correct everyone knows that was one of the reasons all of those old cartoons were so funny you change it you will ruin it and it will fail. I know that makes me not want to pay to see it.

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There are some people and companies who becomes so offensive regardless of the context.Speedy Gonzales is winner for sure.

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It's really sounds great.thanks for sharing.

[mm]

I used to love GL and his humor until recently, when he has totally turned into and supports a racist america! I will never pay a cent to listen to, watch or support anything from this coward bastard making a sht load of money off of his own self proclaimed race of shame riling up a poor and very uneducated group of people to an uprising of racist feeling not witnessed since the racial riots of the 1960s. He is after a paycheck pure and simple! What a fricken hipocryt! Like he said! Watch out cause in 5 years, we're taken over the USA~ Viva la Raza! Fukk you bastard mother fkker!!!

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Thank you for information !! Have you noticed one thing ? George Lopez is great voice charter. Watch the movie "Toy Story 3 " And you will realized this thing. He has done brilliant job.

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[lewis]

I like Speedy Gonzalez as is. I'm sick and tired of Politically correct bullshit. I don't have anything against george lopez,but as the voice as Speedy? No Mames! Just because you can,doesn't mean you should.So what if idiots without a sense of humor or common sense are offended...as they say in show biz.."The show must go on." Fin

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New Line Cinema is about to develop what I fear will be a massive failure: a Speedy Gonzales movie. Yes, that's right; the studio has indeed decided it would be an awesome idea to create a live-action/CGI film for the fast mouse nobody can stop.