FAST 8 Directors' Shortlist Nails Down To Four
The past several weeks have been pretty rickety with the development of the upcoming eighth installment of the Fast And Furious saga. Actor and series producer Vin Diesel‘s name has been one in the rumor mill for sometime now along with an array of contentious blurbs from around the web regarding troubles finding a director, issues which Diesel at one point made clear were non-existent with the congruent search for a director.
Alas, the search continued and while Rob Cohen, director of the very first film of the franchise, The Fast And The Furious was up for the seat this go-around, it’s also been reported not meant to be. And with that, Variety now concludes the search is down to four directors: F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton), Adam Wingard (The Guest), Louis Leterrier (Now You See Me) and Will Eubank (The Signal).
News also started picking up recently with word from Diesel himself that there would be a new trilogy, thus partly confirming a multi-film finale reported late last year. Previous directors Justin Lin and James Wan have parted from the franchise to focus on their respective careers despite lucrative offers from Universal.
I haven’t seen The Signal but I only recently saw Wingard‘s The Guest and thought it to be an intensive and contemplative thriller full of darkness and brutality with neat moments of action. Leterrier‘s own work is pretty spectacular having worked on a few meaty actioners like The Transporter and The Incredible Hulk so there’s no doubt that he’s someone who can direct an action movie for sure.
However, Fast And Furious 8 would be a great move for Gray who previously directed the 2003 crime drama, A Man Apart with Diesel starring. Plus, given Statham‘s casting in the next film, it would also make a lovely reunion for Statham who starred in Gray‘s stellar 2003 heist actioner, The Italian Job – another ensemble movie that deals in a fair shake of splendidly-shot car chases as well.
If Gray, Diesel and Statham still have a good rapport and Gray shows interest, I see no reason why he shouldn’t helm, and I think it’s clear who my choice is.
Fast And Furious 8 opens on April 14, 2017.
Native New Yorker. Been writing for a long time now, and I enjoy what I do. Be nice to me!