Christina Ricci and Emile Hirsch will tear up the screen next summer in a live-action remake of the old “Speed Racer” cartoon.But a source close to the writer/directors, the Wachowski siblings, tells us their earlier choices were Rose McGowan and Zac Efron.
McGowan, 34, has admitted to having plastic surgery for an eye injury related to a car accident. But casting skeptics suspect she has had much more done, and that it cost her the role.
“The studio felt like she was hard to recognize and worried that by the time the movie hit theaters, fans might not know who she was,” says our insider.
A rep for the actress said “she was not pursuing this role.”
Efron, meanwhile, may be taking over the world with the “High School Musical” franchise, but his youth worked against him for the part of Speed.
“During his auditions, Zac never connected to the romantic lead in the reading,” says our source. “By the second round, the casting crew didn’t feel he was believable as a leading man/hero.”
Don’t sweat it, Zac — you never would have lived down the character’s little red neckerchief, anyway.
Oh no, is that really her? I like Rose McGowan on the Charmed TV series better than this… her eye surgery might have been became the whole face surgery. She missed out the Speed racer? Maybe she should have try the Witch role… again.
