Production has yet to begin on "Fast 8" as director F. Gary Gray told Collider that they are still locking down a definite date to start filming.
While Gray confirmed that the movie is still in pre-production, Vin Diesel gave fans a new teaser as he took to Instagram to share the first image from the film by uploading a poster with the tagline "New Roads Ahead."
The poster shows New York City's skyline, and this confirms earlier reports that the movie will be based mostly in the Big Apple, a change from the previous installments which saw the characters going on car chases in different parts of the world.
Meanwhile, a new report claims that Eva Mendes is being brought back for "Fast 8." Mendes played Monica Fuentes in "2 Fast 2 Furious." According to a source with We Got This Covered, the actress is being brought back for the upcoming film because both Diesel and Gray want to test how audiences will receive her as they are allegedly thinking of giving her character a spinoff film.
If the rumors are true, Mendes's return will signal a new beginning for the franchise as 'Furious 7' said goodbye to one of its stars, the late Paul Walker. While the source was unclear exactly how the actress will factor into things, the insider said that she will be central to the plot and that Tommy Hatto will also be in the film as someone close to Monica. It was speculated that the actor will be playing her son.
While Diesel, Gray, and Universal have yet to comment on the reports, Gray told Collider that he is "extremely excited" about the direction that they are going in for "Fast 8."
"We're really pushing to make sure the audience feels like it's not more of the same," said the director about the upcoming film. "They feel like the characters they've come to know and love are there, but this is gonna be different."
"Fast 8" will premiere on April 17, 2017.
