As every new trailer shows, the “Fast and Furious” franchise is slowly inching toward “Speed Racer” with tank tops, but that journey hit a bump last week when it was revealed that ‘Furious 6’ director Justin Lin would not return for the series’ seventh installment. That didn’t stop rumors from swirling about that film’s villain, but it seems Universal have now made steps toward finding a new helmer, and quick.
Alongside Rob Cohen and John Singleton, Lin has truly shepherded the franchise into a specific brand of bombastic, ‘roided-up entertainment. Understandably, in order to fill his shoes, Universal have reportedly narrowed their list of directors down to those adept at adaptations, sequels, and remakes: Jeff Wadlow, fresh off directing “Kick-Ass 2” for the studio, “The Lincoln Lawyer” helmer Brad Furman, and Harald Zwart, best known for his “Karate Kid” remake with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan.
Universal’s choice could be coming sometime this week, and we’ll see if any of these guys have what it takes to corral Paul Walker and Vin Diesel into the next installment’s mode of brilliance. Also, considering the massive box-office haul that “Fast Five” experienced ($626 mil worldwide) — that the studio will likely replicate with ‘Furious 6’ this Memorial Day weekend — Universal knows they could probably stick Michelle Rodriguez‘s stunt double in the director’s chair and get a bankable result. We say go for it, Guiomar Alonso. But her aside, whom else would you like to see possibly slip into the helm? [Latino Review]