The cars of the Fast and Furious films have always been a big part of the franchise, and a new video from the set of the upcoming sequel offers a hint of just how big of a role they will play in the next installment of the series.
Dennis McCarthy, the film’s vehicle coordinator, hosts the new video, which has been posted on the franchise’s Facebook page, and provides a tour of some of the cars — and motorcycles, helicopters, boats, and buses — appearing in the 2017 film. The collection of vehicles assembled for the film is valued at more than $17 million, according to McCarthy.
Among the highlights of the video is a Nissan concept car valued at more than $2 million, as well as several other one-of-a-kind cars (and at least one boat) that can only be seen in the film. The video also features some cameos from franchise actors Michelle Rodriguez and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, who turn up on set midway through the tour.
Directed by Straight Outta Compton filmmaker F. Gary Gray, Fast 8 is envisioned as the first film in a new trilogy that begins in the wake of deceased franchise actor Paul Walker’s death and continues the high-speed adventures of the ensemble cast. Along with the three upcoming films the studio has planned, various spinoffs and prequel projects are also in the works for the blockbuster franchise.
One of the most successful film franchises of all time, the Fast and Furious films have earned just shy of $1.3 billion in U.S. theaters over the course of seven films and just under $3.9 billion worldwide.
Along with Rodriguez and Bridges, Fast 8 brings back franchise cast members Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Elsa Pataky, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Lucas Black, as well as Furious 7 cast members Jason Statham and Kurt Russell. Charlize Theron will play the film’s unidentified villain, with Kristofer Hivju portraying one of her henchmen. Scott Eastwood will also appear in the film, and is expected to play a disciple of Russell’s mysterious CIA agent.
Fast 8 is currently scheduled to hit theaters April 14, 2017. It will be followed by the next film in the series on April 19, 2019, and another installment on April 2, 2021.
