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George Lopez to bring Speedy Gonzales to theaters

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Comedian George Lopez will voice the Looney Tunes character Speedy Gonzales on the big screen. New Line is producing a live-action/CG hybrid movie featuring the famous 50’s character.

Over the years, Speedy appeared in the live-action/animation features “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” “Space Jam” and “Looney Tunes: Back in Action.” But the character has often courted criticism that the ethnic characterizations of him and his compatriots (especially lazy cousin Slowpoke Rodriguez) are stereotypically racist and severely outdated.

Aware of this, New Line and the producers plan to update the brand with a modernized sensibility (it takes place in present day) under what Ann Lopez calls George’s “Latino seal of approval.” (No need to throw fuel on the fire that serves as an immigration debate in this country.)

“We wanted to make sure that it was not the Speedy of the 1950s — the racist Speedy,” Ann Lopez said with a chuckle. “Speedy’s going to be a misunderstood boy who comes from a family that works in a very meticulous setting, and he’s a little too fast for what they do. He makes a mess of that. So he has to go out in the world to find what he’s good at.”

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Comments 14

  1. I don’t remember Speedy Gonzales being in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”. The movie took place in 1947, which would predate Speedy I think.

    I could be wrong, but I’ve seen that movie like 20 times. Does anyone else remember him being in it?

  2. The fact that there are people claiming Speedy is racist is funnier than what the movie’s going to turn out.

  3. “Does anyone else remember him being in it?”

    I saw Who Framed Roger Rabbit a few times – loved that movie. I don’t remember Speedy being in it.

  4. A little online research and I discovered that Speedy does indeed appear in WFRR. He’s has a cameo in the final scene when all the toons gather around Judge Doom’s “dipped” corpse.

  5. Apparently Speedy didn’t have a very good screen presence.

  6. “Aware of this, New Line and the producers plan to update the brand with a modernized sensibility”

    in other words they’re only going to make fun of white people

  7. I usually try to remain positive and post mostly supportive things here at TDC. But just a prediction, this movie is going to suck it big time.

  8. It’s going to suck big time and make a boatload of money.

  9. “It?s going to suck big time and make a boatload of money.”

    If there’s one consolation, I guess it would mean that more of the original Looney Tunes will be restored and released on DVD.

  10. Speedy G. on the big screen. Can a one joke wonder be stretched out into a 80-110 minute feature ? I know Lorne Michaels did it with x number of old SNL skits, but …
    Is George Lopez the best person to head such a project, remember it was Sandra Bullock who made his show, well, his show.

  12. Speedy was a negative stereotype with one joke and a few catch phrases. He’ll have to be a new character to pull of a movie. George Lopez is one of the most irritating guys on TV. His voice is irritating and they’re gonna use it for an entire movie?

    It’s funny they’re concerned about the racist depiction of Speedy, when all Lopez jokes about on his show is race. Watch his show and I guarantee within the first ten minutes he’s joking about race.

  13. I rather thought of Speedy as a positive stereo type – he was fast, clever, energetic, enterprising and always won. I guess that means we won’t be seeing Slow Poke Rodriguez in the movie! 😉

  14. As the kids these days say, WTF?

    Lopez doing Gonzalez?

    I’m sure he’ll be brought back only to be politically corrected.

    Screw humor. Warner’s is looking for cover!

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