The Wachowski Brothers pretty much already had an instant audience with their upcoming Speed Racer. Despite the grumbling about the final two films, fans are still zelaous about The Matrix and even though the Brothers only executive produced V For Vendetta, their names have been forever linked with the films. Additionally – there’s that whole existing Speed Racer/anime culture to take into account. Still, the brothers are continuing to stack the deck in their favor by adding as many cool things into the movie as possible.

The latest addition of cool is the man who would risk his neck for his brother man; the cat who won’t cop out when there’s danger all about – I’m talkin’ ‘bout Shaft baby! Richard Roundtree has been added to the cast for Speed Racer.

Roundtree will join Emile Hirsch, Matthew Fox, John Goodman, and Susan Sarandan, and will appear in the role of Ben Burns according to The Hollywood Reporter. Burns is a former racer now turned commentator who is a hero to Speed (Hirsch) and an icon of the race. Sounds like a role appropriate for the awesomeness that is Shaft.

I’ve never been a fan of the Speed Racer cartoon, but this movie just keeps getting better and better.