(CelebNMusic247-News) Universal Eyes Fast & Furious 9 and 3-Movie Deal for Lucas Black
With the success of the Fast & Furious franchise there are new talks that Universal is currently in the works of extending the franchise to 9, which could mean a 3-movie deal for Tokyo Drift star Lucas Black.
The franchise is currently shooting Fast & Furious 7 now, with options for eighth and ninth franchise installments.
With the last two installments in the Fast & Furious franchise grossing more than $ 1.4 billion worldwide and Fast & Furious 7 racing into theaters next summer, Universal Pictures is already looking down the road to Fast & Furious 9.
Lucas Black, the star of Fast & Furious 3: Tokyo Drift, has signed a deal to appear in the seventh film, with options to appear in the eighth and ninth installments, a spokesperson at Black’s agency ICM Partners revealed.
Here’s the drop:
Universal says it’s not yet developing Fast & Furious 8, let alone Fast & Furious 9, but confirms that Black’s deal for “Fast & Furious 7? includes options for two additional sequels — not that his character is guaranteed to survive the next movie, which opens summer 2014.
James Wan, who has guided “The Conjuring” and “Insidious Chapter 2? to $40 million openings this year, is directing “7? from a script by Chris Morgan. Neal H. Moritz is producing with Vin Diesel, who stars alongside Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Tyrese Gibson, Jason Statham, Djimon Hounsou and Kurt Russell.
It’s not uncommon for studios to make talent deals ahead of time should they decide to make additional sequels, and while Universal is smart to cover its bumper, the studio may be getting ahead of itself here — after all, the “Fast & Furious” franchise flamed out once before.
Will audiences three-to-five years from now still pay to see more stories in which Dom Toretto (Diesel) races from the law? The gravity-defying action series has been trending upward at the box office, but Hollywood is a cyclical business, TheWrap reports.
In other news, it has also been rumored that Kurt Russell may be appearing in the franchise as well.
Kurt Russell, whose last major movie role was Quentin Tarantino’s 2007 thriller Death Proof, is in negotiations to join James Wan’s Fast and Furious 7. But the Death Proof is not the only one being added to the high speed throttle loving action thriller. Rumor has it, UFC champion Ronda Rousey is in negotiations to join the cast of Fast & Furious 7, Universal Pictures has confirmed to TheWrap.
Rousey, who who is currenlty wrapping filming on The Expendables 3, is nearing a deal for a minor supporting role that will showcase her fighting skills. Should the deal close, Rousey would represent the first new addition to the blockbuster franchise.
James Wan is directing Fast & Furious 7, which will star Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson, as well as plenty of other familiar faces who will return for the latest sequel.
Fast & Furious 7 arriving in theatres July 11th, summer 2014.
