It was previously reported that Lucas Black is likely to reprise his role as Sean Boswell in "Fast and Furious 8" given that the actor had signed a contract obligating him to return in case the studios find a means of inserting him into the narrative. Rumors are now flying about that his character will become Dominic Toretto's (Vin Diesel) new road buddy.

Fans are quick to point out that that Black is indeed listed on the film's official IMDB page and that he is not noted to have a rumored cameo. This indicates that the character of Boswell will have a more significant role than the short cameo he had in the seventh film, where he simply appeared in one scene to discuss with Toretto Han's (Sung Kang) death.

Sean's role in the third film does mark him as a worthy replacement for Brian O'Connor (Paul Walker) but the latter had formed a strong family bond with Toretto while Boswell's only connection is his time with Han. Despite this, it is possible that Sean will be called in by Toretto when things go awry and the team needs another talented driver.

A report from Cinema Blend points out that Boswell is set to appear in "Fast 8" and in "Fast 9," making it likely that his role in the franchise will grow for the next few films. Given that the actor is not yet written into "Fast 10," it is possible that he will be killed off by the end of the ninth film or simply written into the 10th film as a strong member of the core group.

Taking over Brian O'Connor's place as Toretto's partner is a big task and fans may not respond to it lightly. However, Lucas Black did pose as a serviceable leading man in "Tokyo Drift" and it is possible he may retain that strong momentum in the eighth and ninth films in the franchise, particularly when working beside Vin Diesel. 

"Fast 8" opens in theaters April 14, 2017.