Interview: Emile Hirsch is Back to Discuss the Legacy of ‘Speed Racer’

The legacy of Speed Racer has, slowly but surely, evolved. Upon release in 2008, the latest film from the Wachowskis was seen as a disappointment. Coming as their first directorial outing since wrapping The Matrix trilogy, this more family friendly work puzzled audiences, who stayed away, and critics, who didn’t appreciate how ambitious it was. Most recognized how visually distinct the movie was, but it’s only with hindsight that it’s actually getting its flowers. The flick was just ahead of its time, as many involved have noted. One such individual is Emile Hirsch, who starred as the title character. With Speed Racer getting a 4K release this week (tomorrow, actually), I recently was on Zoom with Hirsch discussing its legacy. Now, with the disc about to hit shelves, our chat comes your way.

I’ve spoken to Hirsch several times before (here and here, most recently), so there was some familiarity between us. Usually, I’m keen to bring things back to an older work of his like The Girl Next Door while talking about a new release, so it was a fun change of pace to be able to focus on an older flick of his this time. There’s obviously nothing wrong with promoting a new release, but looking back does often bring out the best in an interview subject, with this being no exception.

Below, you can see my conversation with Hirsch. We’re talking Speed Racer, obviously, and it’s very interesting to hear and see Hirsch recall its history. From the failed release and how that felt, to having a few folks champion it, all the way to recently watching it on the big screen with an audience and having them love it, he’s run the gamut of emotions with the film. He also speaks a bit about how he’s grown since then and now really appreciates the character he was lucky enough to play. It’s clear he’s still incredibly proud of the flick and is thrilled to see history catching up to him and those involved in its creation. The movie is a lot of fun and still a visual treat well ahead of its time, so if you’ve yet to catch up with Speed Racer again or even see it once, it’s coming to 4K tomorrow, so be sure to pick it up…

Here now is my interview with Speed Racer star Emile Hirsch. Enjoy:

Speed Racer comes to 4K tomorrow!