In very unsurprising news, Universal has confirmed, via Variety, that it is looking to produce spin-off from its very profitable Fast and Furious franchise. Furious 7 is currently the second highest-grossing movie of the year so far, and Universal are looking to capitalise on its success by making new movies, featuring stories revolving around the various characters seen across the seven films.
“We’ve written out story lines for various characters,” said star Vin Diesel to the trade. “We’ve been playing with it for a long time. It’s a very rich property and we’re committed to treating it with a lot of class.”
Universal Pictures Chairman Donna Langley also added: “We’re certainly in conversations about how we can expand the franchise now,” said Langley. “It’s an ensemble cast and there’s room to bring characters in and out.”
The trade doesn’t mention which characters will be given their own movies, but does add that Paul Walker’s character will be left alone.
“Paul won’t be in it, but he’ll be represented in some form or another but whether his image is in it, I can’t tell you yet, but he won’t be in the film as a performer, as an actor, the way we did it last time,” said Ron Meyer, vice-chairman of NBCUniversal. “It will still be ‘Fast and Furious,’ it will just be without Paul.”
An eighth Fast and Furious movie is already in development with shooting expected to start in the new year for an April 2017 release. F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton) will helm the movie for the studio with Diesel the only confirmed returning cast member at present.
More news as we get it.
