May 8, 2008--IMAX Corporation and Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that Speed Racer, the new live-action film from the creators of The Matrix trilogy, will open in North America on 84 IMAX screens on May 9, 2008, simultaneously with the movie's wide release. The picture will also open internationally in 26 IMAX theaters during the days and weeks following the domestic launch. Speed Racer has been digitally re-mastered with IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology. Warner Bros. Pictures will be the exclusive distributor of the film to IMAX theaters worldwide.

"In IMAX theaters, audiences can experience the next best thing to actually sitting in the driver's seat during this high-speed adventure," said Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures. "The riveting action and stunning special effects make it an ideal fit for IMAX's format."

"Speed Racer has all the elements for a powerful IMAX experience, with its broad appeal and spectacular effects," said Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures. "We are excited to be exhibiting the film internationally in this unique format."

"With up to 14,000 watts of digital surround sound and crystal clear, larger-than-life images, this movie looks and sounds amazing in IMAX, and we're very excited to give Speed Racer fans a premium way to experience this incredible thrill ride," added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "Warner Bros. Pictures, the Wachowski brothers and Joel Silver have once again created an edge-of-your-seat adventure that is ideally suited for The IMAX Experience."

From the Wachowski brothers and producer Joel Silver, creators of the groundbreaking The Matrix trilogy, comes the high-octane, live-action family adventure Speed Racer, which follows the adventures of the young racecar driver Speed (Emile Hirsch) in his quest for glory in his thunderous Mach 5. The Wachowski brothers directed Speed Racer from their own screenplay. Joel Silver, Grant Hill, Andy Wachowski, and Larry Wachowski are the producers, with David Lane Seltzer, Michael Lambert, and Bruce Berman serving as executive producers.

The film stars Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, Benno Furmann, Hiroyuki Sanada, Asian pop superstar Rain, and Richard Roundtree. Based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the live-action Speed Racer will showcase the kind of revolutionary visual effects and cutting-edge storytelling that have become the benchmarks of the Wachowski brothers' films. Speed Racer is a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, of a Silver Pictures Production, in association with Anarchos Productions. This film is rated PG. www.speedracerthemovie.com