SPEEDY GONZALES in The Fast Lane To a Feature-Length Heist Film
For years there have been rumors around Hollywood that a Speedy Gonzales animated movie was coming to the big screen. Originally, George Lopez was slated as the voice of the classic character. According to Deadline, Lopez is out and Eugenio Derbez (Instructions Not Included, Book of Life) is in as the world’s fastest mouse. This is what the actor had to say about the project:
"In Mexico we grew up watching Speedy Gonzales. He was like a superhero to us, or maybe more like a revolutionario like Simon Bolivar or Pacho Villa. He watched out for the little people but with a lot of bravado and a weakness for the ladies. I’m really excited to be bringing this character to the big screen. And besides being Mexican— my full name is Eugenio Derbez Gonzalez and I have big ears. The casting couldn’t be better."
The in-development project, which is tentatively entitled Speedy, will be produced by Dylan Sellers via Rivers Edge Films and Derbez and Ben Odell via their 3pas Studios. Hank Nelken (Are We Done Yet?, Saving Silverman) has been hired to script the story, which is described as a heist caper. The new iteration of the project (which apparently was originally spilled by the Tracking Board) will likely be cut into both English- and Spanish-speaking versions.
“We see this as an origin story of the great master, like a Robin Hood character, who ultimately ends up taking from the rich and giving to the poor,” said Sellers. “In a time when Donald Trump is gaining momentum, the world needs Speedy more than ever.”
There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the character of Speedy Gonzales...political correctness and all of that. Do you feel that Speedy is worth getting a full-length feature? I feel that it will be fun to watch if it ever makes it through development.