‘Speed Racer’ film back in gear

Chim Chim must be doing back flips. Warner Bros. is back on track with development of a live-action film adaptation of the popular Japanese-cartoon series “Speed Racer,” the studio said Thursday.

The “Speed” project, idling in Warner’s slow lane for about a decade, shifted back into high gear after actor Vince Vaughn (“DodgeBall”) sold the studio on his own concept for the movie, with Vaughn cast as the title character’s mysterious big brother, Racer X, a studio spokeswoman said.

A previous incarnation of the project had director Julien Temple at the helm with Johnny Depp on board to star, but the trade paper Daily Variety said that version stalled over budget considerations.