Next Fast and Furious movie to be set in China? Vin Diesel's keen
The Fast and The Furious looks set to keep racing on - with the road leading to China, apparently.
While the untimely demise of lead actor Paul Walker during the production of Fast & Furious 7 threw the popular movie racing franchise into uncertainty, co-star Vin Diesel dropped the biggest hint yet about an eighth film.
Addressing a frenzied crowd of fans on the red carpet in Beijing ahead of a press conference on Thursday, the 47-year-old actor and producer, who plays Dominic Toretto, said: "If we make another another Fast and Furious film, we will film in China!"
Should Diesel's promise come true, China will join an expansive list of locations including Rio de Janeiro, London, Tokyo and Abu Dhabi, where the series has been filmed over its 14-year history.
It could also turn out to be a shrewd money-spinning move.
The fourth Transformers film featuring scenes in China and Hong Kong was 2014's highest-grossing film worldwide, picking up more than US$1 billion ($1.37b) at the box office.
Diesel is in Beijing for a promotional tour along with co-stars Michelle Rodriguez, who plays Letty Ortiz, and Jason Statham, who plays main antagonist Deckard Shaw.
Photos: UIP
Fast & Furious 7 opens in Singapore theatres on April 2.
While he explained that China would be a logical choice to expound on a previous plot thread involving the franchise's other characters Han Seoul Oh and Gisele Yashar (played by Sung Kang and Gal Gadot respectively), Diesel also opened up the possibility of Statham's character making another appearance - as a potential good guy.
Diesel said: "Jason's character isn't a one-dimensional villain.
"His character is layered - and layered with promise. So although he was fighting for his own definition of family and righting the wrongs to his little brother, there's a wink to the audience and a subtle promise that you may see the Shaw character team up with a different character in the future saga."
The revelation prompted Rodriguez to exclaim: "No secrets in this one!"
"Hey, I've got another job!" joked Statham.
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