'Fast 8' news: Film bringing back a few familiar faces; story will move to New York City

(Fast & Furious Official Facebook Page)

"Furious 7" was initially planned to be the beginning of a new trilogy in the "Fast and the Furious" franchise. Director, James Wan, revealed that the original ending for the "Furious 7" movie would set up the events that would lead to the next film. However, Paul Walker's tragic death in 2013 had the Universal Pictures rethinking their plans for the franchise. Universal Pictures, in the end, decided to end the movie with a touching and heartfelt tribute to Walker.

The loss of Walker and the uncertain future of the franchise resulted in an enthusiastic response from moviegoers. The film was a massive hit, and is now the fifth highest grossing movie of all time, making $1.5 billion in the box office. With success like that, it was a no-brainer for Universal Pictures, opting to continue the franchise.

The movie is slated for a 2017 release, however, fans are already curious about how the film will move on. Thankfully, the cast members of the franchise have been quite generous with revealing juicy tidbits every now and then.

Earlier in March, star, Vin Diesel, revealed during an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" that Kurt Russell may have a significant role in "Fast 8." "Kurt Russell came in for this movie, but he we really hired him because of a story that follows this and it takes place in New York," Diesel revealed.

Michelle Rodriguez also seemed to confirm the move to New York, after filming most of the movies in LA. "New York's just like a melting pot. There's so much to discover there," Rodriguez said. The actress was excited to explore different options for the upcoming movie, including the Hells Angels crew, filming in the Yankee Stadium or the West Side highway.

Whatever might happen in "Fast 8," Rodriguez also mentioned the story will have to be relevant and heartwarming. She cited that the success of "Furious 7" was largely due to the fact that people all over the world showed support for Walker, something that will not factor in the next movie.

Lucas Black, who played Sean Boswell in "Fast & Furious 3: Tokyo Drift, made a brief appearance in "Furious 7." Deadline reported back in 2013 that Black had signed a contract indicating that his character would become a regular in the franchise for at least three more installments. Thus, there is a possibility for Black to appear in the next two "Fast and the Furious" films.

There are also rumors that Eva Mendes may be reprising her role as U.S. Customs Agent, Monica Fuentes. While this is still merely speculation, Diesel's revelation of Russell's return may be connected to Mendes' return. The "Fast and the Furious" crew will reportedly be working for Mr. Nobody's (Russell's role) underground organization, which may mean that they will have to face a few government officials along the way. This could open up a chance for Mendes' character to return.

Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson have already confirmed that they will be back for "Fast 8."

With more than a year to go before the film's release, there are still plenty of opportunities for the cast and crew to reveal more details. Fans of the franchise should stay tuned.

"Fast 8" is scheduled to be released to theaters on April 14, 2017.

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