Director James Wan sees Fast and Furious 7 as a “gritty revenge thriller”

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

FAST AND FURIOUS 7 (or FAST 7, or whatever the hell it ends up being called) will probably be a little different from the previous films. Nothing radically different I’m sure, but this is the first FAST AND FURIOUS film not directed by Justin Lin since 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS.

James Wan is helming the follow-up to FAST AND FURIOUS 6, and while talking to The Playlist about some of his upcoming films the director shared what elements he’ll be bringing to the franchise:

I really like the theme of this next one that we’re going with. I can’t really talk about it, but I like the theme; it’s one that I really relate to. Then there’s the drive of Number Seven, which was set up at the end of Number Six, which is a classic revenge story. I’m a big [genre] fan, so that’s how I’m approaching it: I’m looking at it like a gritty, ’70s revenge thriller, but one that still fits into the ‘Fast and Furious’ series.

If you’ve seen Wan’s DEATH SENTENCE with Kevin Bacon (very underrated) you know the director has a soft spot for the genre, and the special cameo at the end of FAST AND FURIOUS 6 will more than likely be the set-up for the “classic revenge story.” In previous interviews the director has also mentioned THE FRENCH CONNECTION and DEATH WISH as sources of inspiration for FAST AND FURIOUS 7.

The films in the FAST AND FURIOUS series get bigger and louder with each installment, but I wonder if James Wan is going to make the latest film a little smaller and more intimate. That doesn’t mean FAST AND FURIOUS 7 is going to be like DRIVE (although if it does happen this woman is going to be really f*cking confused), but with Wan directing I wouldn’t be surprised if the over-the-top action was toned down just a little in the new film.

FAST AND FURIOUS 7 is scheduled to be released on July 11th, 2014.