Now that buzz on "Furious 7" is heightened nearing its release date, news on the follow-up installment has also made its way online. "Fast and Furious 8" details revealed include the return of director Justin Lin and Kurt Russell as cast member.
In reports early this year, Kurt Russell's appearance in the upcoming "Furious 7" reveal that his character will only emerge briefly, but will come back for the next installment, unofficially titled as "Fast and Furious 8".
In an interview with IGN, Kurt Russell talked about possibly returning to "Fast and Furious 8" following his "Furious 7" stint. He said, "That's going to interesting. Because the character has been purposely treated in a certain way so that he can or can't. The 'can' will be an interesting stretch. It works, because I understand what it is and we came up with it."
While this interview seems like a spoiler for "Furious 7" as Kurt Russell implies that his character will be appearing in only one installment, fans will only have to wait a few more months to find out. "Furious 7" release date has been set on April 3, 2015.
Despite the untimely death of cast member Paul Walker in a vehicular accident in November 2013, Universal Studios remain positive that the franchise will go on, with at least three more installments.
Early this November, Donna Langley of Universal Studios talked to The Hollywood Reporter and said: "We think there's at least three more. Paul is, and always will be, an integral part of the story. But there are many other great characters, and it's also an opportunity to introduce new characters. I think it's still a growing franchise. We'll see what happens with 'Furious 7', obviously, but our box office has grown over the past three or four films and internationally, in particular."
Around the same time that Universal Studios shared this news, rumors that veteran "Fast and Furious" franchise director Justin Lin is said to return for the eight installment, "Fast and Furious 8". James Wan, director of "Furious 7" is reported to be working on "The Conjuring 2" by the time "Fast and Furious 8" should be scheduled for production, and so Justin Lin is reported to take the reigns.
Cast members of the upcoming "Fast and Furious 8" production is said to include Cody Walker, Paul Walker's younger brother. He appears in the upcoming "Furious 7" as a stand-in for his brother, filling in for the remaining frames that the late Paul Walker wasn't able to finish.
