'Fast and Furious 8': Everything to Know About the Franchise's Next Installment

Vin Diesel announcing ‘Fast 8′ at CinemaCon 2015 in Las Vegas. (Photo: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

By THR Staff

Fast and Furious is revving up for its next installment: Fast 8.

Four years after the death of franchise star Paul Walker, Universal is set to release the series’ eighth film in 2017. Helmed by Straight Outta Compton director F. Gary Gray, the action thriller will see its hero Vin Diesel’s return with newcomers Charlize Theron and Scott Eastwood.

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In an attempt to keep up with all the latest breaking news on the highly anticipated project, The Hollywood Reporter has compiled everything known about the project so far into a helpful cheat sheet.

WHO

Newcomers
Scott Eastwood: He will operate under Kurt Russell’s character in the film.
Charlize Theron: She will play the film’s villain.

Returning
Vin Diesel (Dominic Toretto)
Dwayne Johnson (Hobbs)
Jason Statham (Deckard Shaw)
Michelle Rodriguez (Letty ‘Ortiz’ Toretto)
Tyrese Gibson (Roman Pearce)
Ludacris (Tej Parker)
Kurt Russell (Mr. Nobody)

Related: Helen Mirren Explains Why She Wants to Be in ‘Fast 8’

WHAT
While details of the plot have not yet been revealed, another round of car-racing action can be expected, and the original cast will be pitted against Theron’s villainous character.

WHERE
In Fast and Furious fashion, the upcoming film will continue its globetrotting by trekking to Cuba. In January, THR exclusively reported that the eighth installment is eyeing the northern Caribbean island for filming. “Universal Pictures is currently in the process of seeking approval from the United States and Cuban governments to explore shooting a portion of the next installment of the Fast & Furious series in Cuba,” the studio said in a statement. If approved, it would be the first Hollywood studio film to shoot on the island since the embargo was set in the 1960s. Sources say that Furious 8 will be based in Atlanta, but a number of exotic locations — including Russia and Iceland — are being eyed for filming.

Update from the 'Fast and Furious’ Twitter:

WHEN
The eighth film in the Fast and Furious franchise is set to hit theaters on April 14, 2017, followed in two-year release date increments for the ninth — April 19, 2019 — and tenth — April 2, 2021— installments.

Related: How 'Furious 7’ Brought the Late Paul Walker Back to Life

WHY
Give audiences what they want. Furious 7 proved to be a global success when the film became the first Universal project to make it to the $1 billion mark in its original run, and later set a new benchmark by grossing $1.5 billion worldwide.

– Compiled by Natalie Stone and Arlene Washington

'Furious 7’ cast tells us who would win a fight between Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, and Jason Statham: