Need for Speed Sequel Could Drive to China

April 8, 2015

Move over, Fast & Furious franchise, because Need for Speed is looking to get a sequel. According to Variety, joint venture partners China Movie Channel Program Center, Jiaflix Enterprises and 1905 Pictures want to make a sequel to last year’s video game adaptation, which starred Aaron Paul and grossed only $43 million stateside. This group previously partnered with Paramount on the partially China-set Transformers: Age of Extinction.

Despite underperforming domestically, Need for Speed amassed $203 million worldwide (including $65 million in China), thus making a tidy profit while impressing viewers with its emphasis on practical car stunts. Now the Chinese joint venture wants to partner with studio DreamWorks Pictures on a sequel set in China and utilizing major Chinese stars in hopes of capitalizing on the brand’s popularity there.

Despite getting the okay from the original video game developer Electronic Arts, talks with DreamWorks have not yet taken place. The unprecedented global success of this past weekend’s Furious 7 might entice the studio to figure out a way to make their own homegrown sequel to ensure they don’t outsource a potential billion-dollar franchise.

“We are excited to work with EA, one of the world’s most recognized creative companies,” said Yin Cao, chairman of China Movie Channel. “We are also delighted that much of ‘Need for Speed 2’ would be filmed in China, and we believe it will include much more Chinese talent and elements.”

Jiaflix president Marc Ganis predicted the launch of “one of the next great franchises for movie fans around the world.”

Based on the most successful racing video game franchise ever, Need for Speed was directed by Scott Waugh (Act of Valor) and stars Aaron Paul, Imogen Poots, Dominic Cooper, Ramon Rodriguez, Rami Malek, Harrison Gilbertson, Scott ‘Kid Cudi’ Mescudi, Michael Keaton and Dakota Johnson.