F9opens in just a few months to give theFast & Furiousfaithful another dose of nitrous-boosted, high-octane, physics-defying action. But while the May 2020 movie is set up as the second part in the “last trilogy to end the saga” (just go with it), franchise starVin Dieseldoesn’t want just one more movie to close it all out. Instead, he’s eyeing a two-partFast 10.
In the latest issue ofTotal Filmmagazine, as reported by that publication’s sister siteGamesRadar, Diesel talked about theFast & Furiousroad that led toF9and beyond. That’s where the mention of spinoffs (which are beneficial to Universal) and two-part franchise closers (which are beneficial to fans and, obviously, the cast and crew) came into play.
Here’s what Diesel had to say about the future of theFast & Furiousfranchise:
“I started planning for Fast 10 before we started filming Fast 9. Very much so. 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.”
So how much of this is part of the marketing blitz for the upcoming release ofF9, how much is getting ahead of the publicity forFast 10, and how much is coming from Diesel himself as he plays the all-too-familiar game of encouraging a vast and passionate fanbase to demand moreF&Ffrom the studio? Probably a mix of all three. The last two core franchise films took in more than $1.5 billion and $1.2 billion worldwide, while theHobbs & Shawspinoff gained around $758 million, a respectable and profitable sum. Clearly there’s room for all sorts of spinoffs here, but Diesel wants to conclude the main saga in a meaningful (and monetarily successful) way. I’m sure fans will be along for the ride however it ends.
Also starringSungKang,Michelle Rodriguez,Charlize Theron,John Cena,Jordana Brewster,Tyrese Gibson,Chris “Ludacris” Bridges,Nathalie Emmanuel,Helen Mirren, andMichael Rooker,Fast & Furious 9opens in theaters on May 22nd.
