Diesel: ‘Fast and Furious’ saga to end
Vin Diesel made a mark as the street racer patriarch in the “Fast and Furious” franchise, but the storyline starring his long-standing character will soon come to an end.
Diesel said in an interview Thursday that the “Fast and Furious” saga will conclude after two more films following the ninth installment, “F9,” which hits theaters June 25. He said Universal Pictures wants to close out the saga in two parts.
The actor said the final two films could potentially release in 2023, then 2024.
“Every story deserves its own ending,” said Diesel during a press junket for “F9” when asked about the franchise’s future. Despite the end of the saga, he said the “Fast and Furious” cinematic universe will continue on.
When Diesel told his daughter about the franchise’s conclusion, the actor said she began shedding tears.
“I know people are going to feel like it doesn’t have to end, but I think all good things should,” he said. “There are reasons for a finale. I think this franchise has deserved it.”
Diesel has starred as Dominic Toretto since the franchise’s inaugural film “The Fast and the Furious” in 2001. The movies have become big earners at the domestic and international box office, with the past two films each making more than $1 billion.
Director Justin Lin said the idea of finishing the saga came during a conversation with Diesel, who has played the leading role in eight “Fast and Furious” films. “We got together, and Vin says, ‘I think we should think about closing up the saga now,’ ” said Lin, who has directed five of the franchise’s films.
Lin will also direct the final two installments.
“Nine is kind of the first film of the final chapter,” the director said. “We’re kind of reconfiguring everything, so that the next two movies should wrap up this amazing journey for these characters.”
Diesel said the franchise has come a long way, but he finally sees a finish line.
“This franchise was born from the pavement, from the concrete,” he said. “The world just championed this underdog to a place where it has already surpassed all of these other franchises. But the franchise has a soul, and that soul has to rest.”
Lorde drops new song:
Lorde released her feverishly awaited new single, “Solar Power,” on Thursday — the first sampling from an upcoming album by the same title.
The song — which arrives four years after Lorde’s last LP, 2017’s “Melodrama” — is “about
that infectious, flirtatious summer energy that takes hold of us all,” the pop star from New Zealand wrote in an email to her fans. Lorde, 24, also described her upcoming album as “a celebration of the natural world, an attempt at immortalising the deep, transcendent feelings I have when I’m outdoors. In times of heartache, grief, deep love or confusion, I look to the natural world for answers. I’ve learnt to breathe out, and tune in. This is what came through.”
June 12 birthdays:
Composer Richard Sherman is 93. Sportscaster Marv Albert is 80. Actor Roger Aaron Brown is 72. Actor Sonia Manzano is 71. Actor Timothy Busfield is 64. Actor Jenilee Harrison is 63. Rapper Grandmaster Dee is 59. Comedian Finesse Mitchell is 49. Actor Jason Mewes is 47. Singer Chris Young is 36.