LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) -
Speedy Gonzales is taking his
folk-hero status, incredible speed and
signature red kerchief to the
big screen, with help from
George Lopez...
The Looney Tunes character debuted in the 1950s as a regular nemesis of
Sylvester the Cat. A 1955 short about the tiny hero, "Speedy
Gonzales,"
won the Academy Award for best short subject, (cartoon). Pat
Boone even
released a hit song about the famous mouse in 1962.
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Slowpoke Rodriguez) are stereotypically racist and severely outdated.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...
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