Most long-running franchises have had to change things up at some point during their run, for better or for worse, and the FAST & FURIOUS franchise is no exception. Knowing that it needed to evolve or die, the franchise switched gears with FAST FIVE and put an increased emphasis on its ensemble cast, or "family" as Dominic Toretto likes to put it. While undoubtedly still giving us the same hugely entertaining physics defying stunts the franchise is known for, Vin Diesel recently told Entertainment Tonight that the upcoming FAST 8 will once again be quite different to what came before.
Fast 8 is different. It's very very dark. My character is conflicted in a way that is really going to shock you. He's coming off of a lot of emotion from 7 and the loss that 7 represents. It's kind of cold-blooded. It is going to hit you like a ton of bricks. Everything is going to make sense.
With FURIOUS 7 bidding Paul Walker a fond farewell, and giving his character a much deserved happy ending, I'd be curious to find out what event prompts Vin Diesel's character to take such a dark turn. Diesel also praised the work F. Gary Gray has done on FAST 8, even going so far as to suggest that it may indeed be Oscar-worthy and make up for Gray's STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON snub.
As bizarre as that might be, he is definitely going to [be recognized]. As crazy as that might sound, he should have really been acknowledged for Straight Outta Compton.I think he went into making this movie with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder, going "Oh, really? Ok. Now I'm going to take the biggest saga in the world, and I'm about to throw Oscars at you." Wait till you see what he does!
Those with long memories know that this isn't the first time (or last I'd imagine) that Vin Diesel has uttered FAST & FURIOUS and Oscar in the same sentence. Just prior to the release of FURIOUS 7, Diesel predicted that it would take home the Oscar for Best Picture. Obviously it didn't, but you've got to admire his enthusiasm and love for the franchise. FAST 8 is set for a April 14, 2017 release.