All high-octane, physics-defying action franchises must come to an end, and Deadline has reported that that time has come for the FAST & FURIOUS franchise. Universal Pictures is planning to wrap up the core FAST& FURIOUS franchise (note the use of the word core) with two more movies, and they're currently in talks with Justin Lin to direct those final installments of the long-running series.
We've known for some time that the FAST & FURIOUS franchise would be coming to an end, but it had always been reported that the series would conclude with the tenth installment. As far as where this eleventh film came from, that might be answered by something Vin Diesel said earlier this year when he suggested that the final film could arrive in two parts. "I started planning for Fast 10 before we started filming Fast 9. Very much so," Diesel said. "The universe is so robust and so rich with talent and rich with story that, on one level, it’s totally feasible to have spinoffs, and I think that’s something that is inevitable. Universal deserves it because of how much they’ve invested in this little saga, and it’d be good to give back to Universal. And for the fans, should Fast 10 parts one and two be the conclusion, it would be nice for this world to continue for generations to come." Even when the main saga of FAST & FURIOUS wraps up (who ever thought that would be a thing), the franchise will likely continue in a series of spin-offs. We've already got our first spin-off under our belts with HOBBS & SHAW, and a sequel to that film is already being developed.
It will be interesting to see just where Universal plans on taking Dominic Toretto and company for their final adventure(s), but we might just get a clue when F9 hits theaters next years. The new film, which marks the return of Justin Lin in the director's chair for the first time since FAST & FURIOUS 6, will find Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) being confronting the sins of his past when his team goes up against the most skilled assassin and high-performance driver they've ever encountered: Dom's forsaken brother, Jakob (John Cena). In addition to Diesel and Cena, F9 will also star Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel, Sung Kang, Helen Mirren, and Charlize Theron.
The official synopsis for F9:
Vin Diesel’s Dom Toretto is leading a quiet life off the grid with Letty and his son, little Brian, but they know that danger always lurks just over their peaceful horizon. This time, that threat will force Dom to confront the sins of his past if he’s going to save those he loves most. His crew joins together to stop a world-shattering plot led by the most skilled assassin and high-performance driver they’ve ever encountered: a man who also happens to be Dom’s forsaken brother, Jakob (John Cena).
F9 will hit theaters on May 28, 2021.