Fast and Furious 8 Release Date, Cast, and Rumors: Will Cody Walker Return?

By Komfie Manalo
Dwayne Johnson
Dwyane Johnson in the action-thriller Fast & Furious 7. paramount pictures

Dominic Toretto's crew will be roaring the streets again for the next installment of the Fast & Furious franchise will be coming to theaters on April 14, 2017. Vin Diesel himself (who plays Dom Toretto) confirmed last April 23 during the CinemaCon held in Las Vegas that Universal Pictures is indeed working on Fast & Furious 8.

Diesel did not provide more details but during the MTV Movie Awards 2015, he also said there will be an eight-installment for the successful franchise. "Well, I was trying to keep it close to the vest throughout the release. Paul [Walker] used to say that eight was guaranteed. And in some ways, when your brother guarantees something, you sometimes feel like you have to make sure it comes to pass," Diesel was quoted as saying.

This early, there are plenty of speculations about the cast ensemble of F8, especially the replacement for Paul Walker who played the character of Brian O'Conner.

As of now, there is still no confirmation if the 26-year-old Cody Walker, brother of Paul, will be part of the cast of Fast and Furious 8, reported Yibada.

It was rumored that Paramount Pictures will bring back Jason Statham (Furious 7) and Luke Evans (Furious 6) as the Shaw Brothers Deckard and Owen. Owen Shaw was believed to have died in Furious 6 but was shown barely alive at the start of Furious 7. Deckard Shaw was locked in prison at the end of Furious 7. Ecumenical News said that the brothers could reprise their roles in Furious 8 to seek revenge against Dom's "family."

Another character who is expected to make a return in the next film is Kurt Russell who played Mr. Nobody in Furious 7. Mr. Nobody is a shadowy government agent who provided Dom and his crew high-tech toys that made their effort to defeat Deckard Owen much easier.

Dom's gang will either work for or against Mr. Nobody in Furious 8.

DSS Federal Agent Luke Hobbes, played by Dwayne Johnson is a definite cast in Furious 8. Asked whether he would return to the next sequel, Johnson has this short reply to the Nerd Report, "Of course. Can't go on without Hobbs.

Hobbes was introduced in Fast Five, and over the last three Fast & Furious films, has helped the franchise to become one of the most successful movies in history. Furious 8 is seen to pass the $1.5bn mark in the coming days.

Also rumored to return is Lucas Black, who played Sean Boswell in Tokyo Drift. Black told Cinemablend.com that he had signed up for Fast & Furious parts 7, 8 and 9. .S. Customs Agent Monica Fuentes, played by Eva Mendez, is also believed to be returning to reprise her role in the franchise.

According to Cinemablend, Vin Diesel said Fast 8 will be set in New York City where he and his family will be invading the Big Apple as their mission for (or against) Mr. Nobody shifts to the streets of Manhattan.

Meanwhile, Manila Livewire reported that some scenes in Furious 8 will be shot in the Philippines. "I just love the Philippines and wants to shoot Furious 8 there," Diesel said. The actor has a Filipino sister in law and has declared his admiration for the Philippine Jeepneys when he visited the country in 2013 to promote Furious 6. If the plan pushes through, the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Matro Manila, Philippines, will be the shot there.

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