Vin Diesel Wants Rob Cohen to Direct Furious 8

Vin Diesel says he would like Rob Cohen to return for Furious 8

Vin Diesel has put up two posts on Facebook in as many days that indicate he wants original The Fast and the Furious helmer Rob Cohen back to direct Furious 8, which would be the start of a new trilogy that would finish the franchise. He says:

Back to the matter of 8… First and most importantly is the SCRIPT, which has to be great. Hopefully the writer will deliver something within the next two weeks… before my Witch Hunter press tour begins. There has always been the desire by Paul to have Rob direct one more, this is what fueled my campaign… I believe that he can and would reset the franchise nicely, returning to what was the core of the film in the beginning… racing. He would also handle the Brian O’connor issue with integrity, given that he and David Ayer were the ones who initially created that beloved character in the first place.

Ultimately we all want the best film to honor what we have created and what you the audience has adopted as your favorite franchise. I will leave this matter in the studios hands for a moment while I release The Last Witch Hunter and start production of the long awaited “Xander Returns”.

Again, we make these films with Our hearts.

Cohen and Diesel previously also teamed up for 2002’s XXX. Earlier this week, Diesel broke the news of the new trilogy, saying: 

My producing partner Neal [H. Moritz] would love for me to just sign off on a director, but this is too special a franchise, so these matters have to be very carefully handled. To be clear, NO ONE has been offered to helm ‘Fast 8’ yet… let alone seen a script. Universal has been so good to me and so trusting of the vision… they have been like family… I promised the studio I would deliver one last Trilogy to end the saga. I will announce the directors on my next post…”

Diesel announced Furious 8 at this year’s CinemaCon after the unprecedented success of the seventh film, which earned $1.511 billion at the worldwide box office, and he along with Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson and Kurt Russell are expected to return, along 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. Universal Pictures will deliver Furious 8 for an April 14, 2017 release.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)