Every good action movie needs a chief antagonist or villain to make it really worthwhile. There is no point having all the good guys working to fight a cause when there isn’t someone you are supposed to be rooting against (or in my sadistic way, I often end up rooting for) on the other side. And who better to play a villain in a franchise all about driving fast cars than the lady who plays the character who started the mother of all cinematic car chases in Mad Max: Fury Road. That’s right, according to ComingSoon.net, Charlize Theron is currently in talks to play the villain in the upcoming Fast 8 movie.
The film is being directed by F Gary Gray who is no stranger to working with Charlize, as they worked together in 2003’s The Italian Job, which was also a movie containing cars and fast driving. I think Charlize would be perfect for the role – she certainly has the screen presence to stand up to the ensemble cast and would make a great addition to the driving in the movie. I’m hoping she gets to drive more big trucks while being chased by an even bigger truck with a guitarist who sprays fire as it drives chained to it – but alas, it will probably be left to her being chased in smaller, faster cars being driven by Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson. At least the cars will be pretty.
Diesel has previously announced that he is planning for Fast 8 to be the start of another trilogy in the series and at the moment, there is no word on whether this role for Theron will only be for Fast 8, or for films 9 and 10 as well. Diesel is confirmed to return with franchise regulars Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Elsa Pataky and Lucas Black reprising their roles as street racers-turned-international criminals-turned-super-secret agents. Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson and Kurt Russell are expected to return as well.
Fast 8 will be followed by a ninth film to be released April 19, 2019 and a tenth film planned to hit theaters April 2, 2021. Fast and Furious 8, 9 and 10 aren’t the only films new that Universal has planned for the franchise, either. It was recently revealed that plans are underway for both Fast and Furious spinoffs and prequels. This is one franchise that they are looking to seriously flog to death, rather than let it go out on a high – but I guess the results will be in whether cinema audiences continue to flock to these remaining movies or not.
Do you think Charlize would make a great addition to the cast of Fast 8? What do you make of their planned expansions to the franchise?
Last Updated: February 10, 2016
