Lords of Dogtown star Emile Hirsch is in final stalks to star in the Wachowski brothers’ big screen live action adaptation of Speed Racer.

Hirsch would play Speed Racer, an eighteen-year-old who aspires to become a race car driver, but his father, automotive engineer “Pops” disapproves. Speed with the help of the amazing Mach 5 race car, embarks on a series of fantastic adventures that pit him and his friends against Skull Duggery, Snake Oiler, Mr. Wiley, and the Alpha Gang. The film is expected to include Speed’s family and mysterious arch-rival, Racer X.

Hirsch has also starred in Alpha Dog, The Girl Next Door and The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys. This news comes just a week after internet rumors placed Zac Efron as the top contender for the role. I think Hirsch is a much better choice for the character.

The original cartoon was one of the first Japanese animes to catch traction with American audiences.

Speed Racer is scheduled to hit theaters on May 9th 2008.