More ‘Speed Racer’ Fallout: Emile Hirsch Exits United Talent; “Total Shocker”

COMMENTS (36)

• The Wachowskis absolutely DID direct “V”. That movie was such a mess after the initial few weeks that they took over, only DGA rules prevented the director from being fired. They directed while he took a back seat. So everyone was happy politically they refrained from putting their names up as directors…

  Comment by Inside Man — Tuesday May 13, 2008 @ 2:02pm PDT  Reply to this post

• I would like to know from Nikki what UTA actually was doing for Hirsch that makes her so rightously sure is worth not only their 10% of his work to date but also 10% of his future. It’s a crazy idea but maybe agents are supposed to be working for the talent and not the other way around!

  Comment by sacha — Tuesday May 13, 2008 @ 6:48pm PDT  Reply to this post

• just saw Speed Racer; i was expecting something a little more “grown up”… but maybe that was misguided; it looked like a cross between anime, a kaleidoscope, the flinstones, and video game and the dukes of hazard

  Comment by patrick — Tuesday May 13, 2008 @ 11:28pm PDT  Reply to this post

• I haven’t seen Speed Racer, although Patrick’s comment, strangely enough, kind of makes me want to more than anything else I’ve read about it. For what it’s worth, I’m an old-timey over-50 year old housewife and mom living near podunk, USA, and even I know who Emile Hirsch is from as far back as Emperor’s Club. Not sure if that makes me exceptional or not, but I figure if I know who he is, surely a lot of other regular folk do too. What I definitely don’t know is how all this Hollywood agent/actor stuff works, so no comment on that, but just wanted to point out that maybe the movie-going public knows more than folks in Hollywood think we do.

  Comment by barbara — Wednesday May 14, 2008 @ 7:16am PDT  Reply to this post

• Heya Racer X
  Speed cost 160-180 mil, not sure why you’re even pretending to try and low ball for effect- the cats out of the bag and for a while. As for Emile: box office should have nothing to do with it: if handlers got him involved in something that aesthetically was not in tune with his desires and skill, then he’s right to move onto someone else.

  Comment by onorere1 — Wednesday May 14, 2008 @ 5:11pm PDT  Reply to this post

• I always laugh when I hear actors ditching their agents – it’s a good thing. It keeps agents “on their toes” when they get too comfortable with their clients and get lazy or stupid.

  Comment by buddy — Wednesday May 14, 2008 @ 11:44pm PDT  Reply to this post

• I know Shani and she built Mr. Hirsch just as much as Sam did. On paper, “Speed Racer” looked like a slam dunk — pre-awareness, big directors, etc. I imagine UTA would have been fired if they LOST the gig for him.

  If the film turned out like “The Matrix,” we wouldn’t be having this debate. It’s not like they dumped him into a sub-par concept with nobodies.

  I imagine Hirsch made a chunk of change as well. If I were an actor, I’d sign with Shani in a second. She’s the only talent agent I’ve ever met who READS and actually cares about developing a client.

  I agree with Ms. Finke. She doesn’t deserve this. As for UTA, I could give a shit about them.

  Love and kisses,
  A former UTA-er

  Comment by None of Your Business :) — Friday May 16, 2008 @ 6:56pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Nikke, you’re the shit. The kid has no idea how well he was represented. If he didn’t have the personality of a peanut and think he was Sean Penn the people in East Troy Wisconsin and Nobelsville Indiana might have a better idea who he is with a little PR.

  The kid wanted to get paid but didn’t want to sell out. Shit happens and then you get paid or fired.

  Bet that 10% payday sounds pretty good right about now eh?

  Comment by Kid Behind the Curtain — Monday May 19, 2008 @ 10:35pm PDT  Reply to this post

• I think that the determining factor in deciding whether Emile was represented well is, “Whose idea was Speed Racer?” If Emile’s, then he’s out of line; if Shani’s, then he made the right decision.

  Comment by Do the Robot — Wednesday May 21, 2008 @ 6:14am PDT  Reply to this post

• I thought it was a little harsh for someone to call Emile a “evil, money-grubbing actor who’s all about the bottom line”. I very much doubt that it was about the money itself. I myself thought Speed Racer was awesome, but maybe the movie just had too many special effects for certain people. He was probably extremely upset that this movie did not do as well as everyone anticipated, and he has a perfect reason to feel that way. I can only imagine how someone would feel if an audience does not respond to a piece that he/she put months and months of his/her heart and soul into. It would be heartbreaking, and I feel for that whole cast and crew. I don’t care, personally, what the critics think. I thought the movie was fabulous and was a BLAST to watch. It was amazing! However, everyone has their own opinion. It is the same case for Emile. He is entitled to GROW as a person, and if he feels he just needs a change by leaving his agency, it is his right as a person to take that change. I believe, at least from what I read, he was very cordial about his departure. He decided that he simply “no longer wanted an agent”. He could have been very cold and nasty about it, but he was not, and I admire him for that. He was very mature and showed a lot of class.
  As for his talent, as some other comments I read, I think that he made all of the roles that he has ever played a success because he himself is a talented actor. Anyone can play a part, but it takes a TRUE ACTOR to put everything he has into the part. I have seen that enthusiasm in all of the movies I have seen him in (which include Alpha Dog, Lords of Dogtown, The Girl Next Door and Into the Wild). Every role he knocked right out of the park, and he has received critical acclaim in ALL of them. Even if his movies were not well-noted, unfortunately, it does not mean that his performances weren’t made just as well as actors twice and three times his age. All of his parts, to me, were very diverse and creative, and he truly made them his own. As well as he did an amazing job playing them. Yes, it’s true, not many people know of him, but as far as I’m concerned, that doesn’t matter. As well, he has said in interviews that he is fine with that. And as far as I’m concerned, as a fan, as long as he’s happy with what he’s doing as far as work and loves what he does as a whole, then I am happy with that, too. Emile, if you’re reading this, always continue to be yourself and follow your heart. Keep being the humble, mature gentleman that you are! Thanks!

  Comment by Jess — Sunday June 8, 2008 @ 8:08pm PDT  Reply to this post

• I heard Emilie Hirsche’s name linked to an independent film titled “Godless Faces On The Water” to be shot in Australia, a low budget independent film. Apparently with a gun shoot out battle, like the one in “Heat” but apparently it’s going to beat that gun battle. It’s about a Muslim terrorist sent to kill a Jewish diplomat in Washington, and Mossad send their best agent to kill the Muslim assassin. Heard it’s really controverrial, with dialogue likE Tarantino meets Munich and Heat. Awesome. I’d love to see Hirsche in a kick arse serious film.

  Comment by Emile fan — Sunday October 2, 2011 @ 4:05am PDT  Reply to this post