Fast and Furious

With James Wan not returning to direct the next installment in the Fast and Furious franchise, Furious 8 is in desperate need of someone to sit behind the camera before Vin Diesel decides to just do the job himself. But it looks like Universal has narrowed their options down to just a few directors, each of them interesting choices in their own right.

Last week reports surfaced that Universal Pictures was having an exceptionally difficult time finding a director to take on Fast and Furious 8, in part because Vin Diesel can be such a pain in the ass to work with. It was a damning report about the status of one of the most beloved and successful movie franchises, but Diesel himself has taken to his Facebook page to refute some of those claims and update on the status of the next Fast and Furious films.

The Fast and Furious franchise wouldn’t be where it is now without Vin Diesel. The films didn’t even kick into high gear until Diesel returned for 2009’s Fast and Furious, and the box-office numbers have been climbing astronomically since then. To say Universal owes Vin Diesel a gigantic debt of gratitude is an understatement, but exactly how much do they owe him? Would they actually let Diesel, who has little experience directing a movie let alone directing a movie on the scale of a Fast and Furious film, behind the camera of Fast and Furious 8? According to a new report, this may be what Vin Diesel wants and Universal is terrified.

With so much action and so much story to pack into each Fast and Furious film, it’s inevitable that at least a few pieces of the narrative will get left on the cutting room floor — you know, to make room for more cars jumping from buildings and planes and whatever else they can use as launchpads for cars. This deleted scene from the upcoming Furious 7 Blu-ray may have been quite useful in the actual movie itself, as it explains just where the hell Letty ran off to and what she did during that whole “I need to go find my memories” part of the story.

Not much is known at this point about Fast and Furious 8 — we do know that Vin Diesel will return, and it’s assumed that much of the main cast will return to reprise their roles from the franchise as well. Diesel also teased a location change to New York City, but that’s about it. But now we have another piece of information about the eighth installment in the franchise: Jason Statham will also return.

Here’s some good news for your friends and #family: Universal has officially announced a special extended edition of Furious 7, which will arrive in stores this September. Along with a longer version of the film, you’ll also get over 90 minutes of bonus materials. That’s enough time to drink at least three Coronas. The studio has also released a trailer to get you properly revved up for the home release.

If you go see Furious 7, there’s a lot to enjoy. From cars parachuting out of airplanes to Vin Diesel and Jason Statham fighting to The Rock walking down a city street shooting a helicopter out of the sky with a giant gatling gun. But, there are some smaller moments you might want to keep your eye out for too. Namely, some fun Furious 7 easter eggs for fans of the franchise and The Rock.

Furious 7 almost certainly won’t be the last Fast & Furious movie. But at times it feels like a series finale. There are numerous callbacks and homages to the franchise’s entire 15-year history. The setpieces are bigger and crazier than ever; it’s hard to imagine anyone topping them. And before the chases really get rolling, the mood is often downright mournful. Two different scenes are set in graveyards, and characters talk about taking “one last ride” together.

In honor of Furious 7, we’re taking a look back at all the major Fast & Furious fights (one or two punches doesn't count) in chronological order to see how this series has transformed. Major SPOILERS for all films ahead.

Increasingly the Fast and Furious franchise has felt like a superhero franchise. A group of heroes with seemingly infinite strength and abilities taking on the bad guys and becoming a family in the process. It's like Avengers meets the Fantastic Four, but with a lot of cars. With the movies already up to Part 7 and Paul Walker sadly gone, the series can't go on forever. So, how do they continue the brand? Just like the superheroes do: with spinoffs.