DS game of Wachowski Bros' Speed Racer revs up

The idea that the notorious Wachowski Brothers (The Matrix series and Bound) would end up making a 'family film' based on 1960s Japanese anime, Speed Racer, seems to be one of those odd outworkings of the film business you just have to file under 'too weird not to be be true'.

True it is, of course, and in May 2008 film-goers will be able to hand over their cash to go and see the story of the eponymous young driver and his all-wonder-car Mach 5 entering The Crucible cross-country race in order to save the family auto firm.

And alongside chaste girlfriend Trixie (how will Christina Ricci manage that?), Mom (Susan Sarandon) and Mach 5's designer, Pops (John Goodman), the audience will no doubt be cheering Speed Racer on in (what we assume will be) his eventual victory against Royalton Industries, the evil empire which is trying to discover the secrets of Mach 5.

Fans of the original series will also presumably be keen to find out whether Speed Racer's younger brother Spritle and his pet chimpanzee Chim-Chim feature. And despite reports of a nasty on-set incident between said chimp and an actor, we're told that, yes, Spritle and Chim-Chim will be up to their usual tricks.

As for the DS game based on the movie (which Warners will be releasing alongside Wii and PlayStation 2 versions), there's very little information currently available. We suggest, however, that it may involve a combination of racing and the various gadgets that Mach 5 comes fitted with.

These include special grip tires, rotary saws for cutting obstacles, a bullet-proof, crash-proof, water-proof cover, mini-wings and a homing robot, all of which are triggered by pressing buttons marked A through G on the hub of Mach 5's steering wheel. Anyone else see a stylus-touchscreen tie-in on the cards?

Speed Racer DS is expected to be released worldwide during May 2008 and we'll rush you more news as and when we have it.