In just over a month, Hobbs & Shaw – aka Dwayne Johnson’s Agent Hobbs and Jason Statham’s Deckard Shaw – will be revving into cinemas in their very own Fast & Furious spin-off movie. But that isn’t slowing things down on the next main entry in the Fast franchise – the ninth instalment (yes, we’re nine films in now) has just started shooting. As you might expect, this one doesn’t star Johnson or Statham, but re-centres Vin Diesel’s Dom Toretto at the heart of the series, joined once again by Michelle Rodriguez’s Letty and Jordana Brewster’s Mia, among others.
Director Justin Lin posted a picture on Twitter confirming production is now underway – marking his return to the franchise for the first time since Fast & Furious 6 in 2013. He boarded the series on 2006’s Tokyo Drift (that’s Fast & Furious 3, if you’re confused), and steered it through reunion pic Fast & Furious (aka Fast & Furious 4), Fast Five, and Fast & Furious 6, before boarding the Starship Enterprise for Star Trek Beyond. Lin referenced his return to the series with the post, simply writing: “Feels like home.”
Diesel also posted a video on Instagram from the first day of shooting – joined by Rodriguez, and say saying, among other things, “Wow wow wow wow wow wow wow.” Speaking from the set, he added: “It feels like a miracle. One hard-earned, but we’re just so grateful […] We’re so grateful to you, the world, that has adopted this franchise. It’s so awesome, we’re so blessed, and we love you so much.”
As well as bringing back Lin, Fast & Furious 9 once again comes from the petrol-fuelled mind of franchise writer Chris Morgan, who has penned each instalment since Tokyo Drift. The ‘plot’ for the new film is currently unknown – but rest assured there will be vehicular mayhem. Returning to the series are fellow stars Ludacris, Tyrese Gibson, and Nathalie Emmanuel, with a new presence in John Cena. Get ready to crack open a cold Corona with La Familia when Fast & Furious 9 hits UK cinemas on 22 May 2020