With each successive entry in the Fast and Furious franchise, Fast 3-6 helmer Justin Lin raised the bar on what we should expect in the terms of balls-to-the-wall action and brawny star power. When he walked away from the car chase-centric movie series, he left many fans wondering how his replacement, horror auteur James Wan, could possibly compete. Well, with the latest casting announcement, Wan seems to be taking some serious strides in an awesome direction.
Variety reports Kurt Russell in currently in talks to join the cast of Fast & Furious 7. This is not a drill. The man who brought to life such brilliantly badass and bonkers characters as The Thing’s R.J. MacReady, Escape from New York’s Snake Plissken, Death Proof’s Stuntman Mike, and Captain Ron’s Captain Ron could team up with Dwayne Johnson, Vin Diesel, Tyrese Gibson, Paul Walker, and Jason Statham for the what will likely be one of the most anticipated releases of next summer.
While we here at Cinema Blend are ecstatic over this possibility, we are admittedly frustrated that Fast 7 filmmakers are keeping mum on what Russell’s role might be should he sign on. However, Universal Pictures did share that this is the same part that was initially offered to Denzel Washington, so we assume it’s a part that demands a certain level of stern bravado with perhaps the occasional crazy wide smile. As no plot line has yet been revealed for Fast & Furious 7, we can’t really begin to imagine how Russell’s could-be character will fit in. For now all we know is that the seventh installment will take Dominic Toretto and his crew back to Los Angeles. And despite what you think you saw at the end of Furious 6, Statham claims he’s not the villain. The lovable British tough guy has said:
"People think I’m gonna play the bad guy. People think I’m gonna be the villain. People don’t really know what’s comin’, and I think there’s something exciting about that.
Let’s speculate wildly for a moment, shall we? Knowing this Fast & Furious franchise is known for its twists and clever retconning of past events (deaths of major characters for example), maybe Statham is hinting that he isn’t the movie’s true bad guy. Maybe that role went to someone whose tough guy screen cred goes further back. The possibilities are dizzying. We already know Russell is solid as a villain with a thirst for vehicular mayhem.
Kurt Russell: definitely the way to go. Should he sign on, he’d be a new member of Fast & Furious’ growing ensemble along with recently added martial arts masters, Tony Jaa of Ong Bak fame, and UFC champ Ronda Rousey.While we impatiently wait for more news on this development, I’ll be fangirling. Hard.
Fast 7 is slated to hit theaters on 11th July, 2014.
