Universal’s high-octane street racing franchise is akin to the suped-up cars that feature in the films; expensive beasts that show no sign of slowing down. With the smell of burnt rubber still lingering in the air from the explosive Furious 7, producer Neal Moritz has revealed that the creative team have been having conversations about a follow-up to the billion-dollar hit, and that fans can expect to get an update about the tentatively titled Furious 8 before long.
Speaking with Collider, Moritz touched upon the immediate future of Universal’s blockbuster franchise, though remained coy about revealing too much, too soon in order to give Furious 7 some room to flourish.
“If that’s going to happen, it’s going to be soon. We’re definitely talking about it [Furious 8], but we’re also kind of all said to ourselves, “Let’s relish this moment of Furious 7. Let’s relish it, and there will be plenty of time to talk about Fast 8.”
Considering that Furious 7 has now made $1 billion faster than any other film in history, the notion of Universal pushing ahead with a sequel in the not-so-distant future is almost a by-gone conclusion. Prior to the tragic death of star Paul Walker, Vin Diesel revealed that the studio had mapped out plans for three additional films beyond the 7th installment, though whether this blueprint will come to pass is another question entirely.
Another creative facet to consider is whether or not Universal coaxes James Wan back into the director’s chair. Currently, the horror maestro is committed to bringing The Conjuring 2 to life for New Line, creating a production clash that will either force Universal to postpone the inevitable Furious 8 for a period or, in the more unlikely scenario, swap out Wan for another director and put the pedal to the floor.
What do you think, though? Do you want to the Fast and Furious series to take a brief hiatus before returning for an 8th installment? Give us your thoughts below.