Readers should be familiar with the first attempt at adapting “Speed Racer” in live action, which the Wachowski sisters did in 2008 with their spectacularly kinetic feature film of the same name. Unfortunately, that extravagant blockbuster (commonly referred to as a “live-action anime”) flopped in theaters — though it has since gained a cult following in appreciation of the eye-popping visuals and masterfully unconventional editing. If this Apple TV+ series can recapture even a tenth of the magic conjured by the Wachowskis, it will have my undivided attention. (Deadline, notably, reports that this new show will have nothing to do with the Wachowskis’ film.)

“Speed Racer” will mark one of the streamer’s more ambitious efforts in recent years, and the names involved certainly reflect that. Fitzgerald is known for co-creating and co-showrunning the first season of the excellent HBO Max series, “Perry Mason,” having previously been credited on shows such as “Westworld” and “Friday Night Lights.” Martinez, meanwhile, has worked on titles such as “Get Shorty,” the new “Snowpiercer” series, and “Snowfall.” For Abrams’ Bad Robot, “Speed Racer” will be made as part of their overall deal that includes several other productions, such as various DC projects, a Stephen King adaptation, and a Netflix series about the band U2.

However, there is no word yet on whether this “Speed Racer” series will be able to top the glorious madness of John Goodman fighting off hordes of ninjas and following it up with the one-liner of: “More like a non-ja. Terrible what passes for a ninja these days.”