Production on the next installment in the Fast & Furious series, titled Fast 8, wrapped earlier this year, well ahead of its Spring 2017 theatrical release date. Most of the core Fast & Furious cast are returning for the eighth adventure in the popular racing series - minus the late Paul Walker, of course. Over the years, the Fast & Furious series has undergone a series of permutations, only to emerge as one of the most fervently popular blockbuster franchises in the 21st century.
With the first Fast 8 trailer due next month, anticipation for the film is approaching a fever pitch - as the many fans of characters like Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and Luke Hobbs (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) begin looking forward to seeing what their favorite movie family gets up to next. However, an on-set feud reportedly between Johnson and Diesel has put a bit of a damper on the situation and proven to be a a source of creative contention that Johnson has seen fit to address once more.
During an interview with the LA Times, Johnson took a moment aside from talking about his role in Disney’s animated Moana to touch on how his friction on the set of Fast 8 has been percieved by distributor Universal Pictures. Speaking to his own professional indiscretion and personal dissatisfaction in equal measure, Johnson stated:
“I was very clear with what I said. I’ve been in the game a long time. Would Universal [Pictures] have preferred that didn’t happen? Sure, we talked about it. The irony is after that and as they do their tracking and all their analysis, the interest shot through the roof to a whole other level.”
The level of viewer speculation regarding Johnson’s uncharacteristic outburst against his Fast 8 costar is certainly nothing to brush aside easily - and has even given rise to rumors regarding a WWE sanctioned fight at Wrestlemania between The Rock and Diesel being in the works. Hopefully things won’t escalate any further than they already have - even if seeing The Rock reenter the wrestling ring against Diesel could be good fun.
Director F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton) has his work cut out for him if he hopes to continue work on Fast 8 without tensions between Johnson and Diesel rising any further, and for the sake of Universal things should run more smoothly between the two from here on out. Johnson sounds as though he is willing to let bygones be bygones, and with any luck the real-life tension will result in a more visceral action movie experience for viewers later next year.
Source: LA Times
- Fast and Furious 8 Release Date: 2017-04-14
