Matthew Fox Is Racer X In Speed Racer

Lost star Matthew Fox is in final negotiations to play Racer X in the Wachowski Brothers' upcoming live-action adaptation of Speed Racer.

Emile Hirsch is Speed Racer, an eighteen-year-old who aspires to become a race car driver, but his father, automotive engineer "Pops" (John Goodman) disapproves. Speed with the help of the amazing Mach 5 race car and girlfriend Trixie (Christina Ricci), embarks on a series of fantastic adventures that pit him and his friends against Skull Duggery, Snake Oiler, Mr. Wiley, and the Alpha Gang. Susan Sarandon is also on board to play Speed's mother. Fox will play Speed's mysterious arch-rival, Racer X. I wonder if Fox's instant like-ability will hurt the character's villainous status.

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.