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…Should this planned abomination become a hit we may soon see “Speedy 2: Mexican Boogaloo” with the voice of Carlos Mencia as Slowpoke Rodriguez.
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.
Besides what would you rather see: a saccharine, bland sack of cinematic slop or Speedy trying to fool the Border Patrol much like he teased Sylvester the Cat in this 1950s cartoon?
Online Sources- Hollywood Reporter, YouTube
de Clermont - It is very amusing to see how some Americans of Mexican origin react to the original Speedy Gonzales. I have the pleasure of living in Mexico City since 1991 and NONE of the Mexicans I have spoken to see anything racist about Speedy. They see it as brilliantly humourous - un ratón vivo y listo surrounded by small town yokels. They laugh harder than the USians do (did?) The Estadounidenses are extremely silly with their PC behaviour. One small group screams the loudest and everyone believes their observation should be heeded above the majority. No doubt the new Speedy will NOT be funny. What a shame we cannot obtain the old Speedy cartoons. ¡Viva Speedy Gonzalez de los años 50 y 60!
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