Richard Roundtree, best known as the original John Shaft, has signed up for a ride in next May's "Speed Racer," reports CNN.  Roundtree will play Ben Burns, a former racer turned commentator who is an inspiration and mentor to Speed.  Production on the film has already begun in Berlin.  He joins Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, Matthew Fox, Susan Sarandon and John Goodman.

Roundtree has been a television staple since the early '70s, first as the title character of the Shaft series, followed by memorable guest roles on many genre shows, including Beauty and the Beast, Alias, Painkiller Jane, Blade: The Series, and recently, as Charles Deveaux on Heroes.