Universal is considering making a Fast and Furious spinoff starring Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson, Deadline reports. Variety reports that Charlize Theron’s Cipher also might be attached to the script.
The movie is still in the very early stages, Variety notes. No script has been written and none of the three mentioned actors are officially attached to any spinoff project. But since joining the cast, Johnson’s Luke Hobbs and Statham’s Deckard Shaw have been hugely popular with fans, and it’s not surprising Universal would want to capitalize on that.
You knew this was coming, right?
Fate of the Furious’s box office record-smashing must be similarly appealing to the studio. The film made $532.5 million in its worldwide debut weekend — more money than Star Wars: The Force Awakens. And the best way to keep that big money ball rolling is to create a full expanded universe.
Reports of the spinoff don’t mention Vin Diesel at all, so it’s unclear how his character will factor into the potential spinoff, if at all. This month’s Fate of the Furious had Diesel attempt to take over the franchise’s hero role, and left some Verge staffers questioning his significance in the series.
Variety notes that given the actors’ schedules, it’s possible the spinoff could even be released before the next proper Fast and Furious installment, which also does not yet have a script.