‘Fast & Furious 8’: Why Vin Diesel Wants Rob Cohen To Direct Again
Actor Vin Diesel opened up about the eighth installment of the Fast and Furious franchise via social media Wednesday.
The 48-year-old actor and producer shared his ideal choices for the person that will direct Fast and Furious 8(also known as “Furious 8” and “F8”) on his official Facebook page.
According to Vin’s Facebook post, it is apparently clear that he wants Rob Cohen to make a triumphant return to the Fast & Furious franchise at least one more time.
However, his reason for doing so does not necessarily start with him. On the contrary, he claims that the request to have Rob Cohen back as a director started with none other than the late Paul Walker.
“There has always been the desire by Paul [Walker] to have Rob [Cohen] direct one more.”
In addition to honoring the wish of his deceased co-star and close friend, Vin Diesel further explains why having Rob Cohen to direct another Fast & Furious film would be a solid fit.
“This is what fueled my campaign… I believe that [Rob] can and would reset the franchise nicely, returning to what was the core of the film in the beginning… racing. He would also handle the Brian O’Connor issue with integrity, given that he and David Ayer were the ones who initially created that beloved character in the first place.”
“He had no fear.” -First @FastFurious director Rob Cohen on @RealPaulWalker learning to race http://t.co/yo204x68gM pic.twitter.com/zuEoVVHRdq
— meriah doty (@meriahonfiah) March 31, 2015
The 66-year-old Rob Cohen has added quite a few movies to his growing resume over the years — including the 2015 film, The Boy Next Door starring Jennifer Lopez.
However, most Fast and Furious fans and critics recognize Rob for introducing the world to Dominic Toretto, Brian O’Conner, and the rest of the gang in the 2001 film, The Fast and the Furious.
Is Vin Diesel Campaigning For Original #FastAndFurious Director Rob Cohen To Direct #Fast8? http://t.co/C65XrnDa7J pic.twitter.com/Tpyv4OWPp1
— Hero Rundown (@HeroRundown) October 1, 2015
Since that first film, Cohen has not yet returned to the director seat for the franchise that he helped to establish.
If Vin Diesel gets his way, though, Rob could end up making that return for Fast and Furious 8.
Longtime fans and critics of the blockbuster franchise have pleaded to get Justin Lin back into the director’s chair — especially since he was took over the franchise from the third through the sixth installment and made it what it is today.
Vin made sure that he praised Justin Lin in his lengthy Facebook post, confirming that the two of them “have been very intensely discussing the trilogy” that they have dreamed about for nearly a decade.
Justin Lin’s packed schedule with Star Trek Beyond apparently conflicts with the studio’s April, 2017, release date for the next Fast and Furious film.
“We know that when we re-team we will shock the world. It is also no secret that he is finishing Trek for JJ [Abrams] and won’t be done in time for us to make the date the studio wanted me to announce of April 14th 2017.”
Therefore, without Justin Lin available to return to the franchise at this time, Vin claims that the eight film is left without “an obvious go-to director.”
During an October, 2012, interview with We Got This Covered, Rob Cohen claimed that “the studio was just milking the cash cow” with the first two sequels in the franchise. He further stated that “it’s a miracle they didn’t kill” the franchise with those follow-up films.
Perhaps Vin Diesel will be able to convince the XXX director to consider taking the job if the studio decides to offer it to him.
[Image Credit: Vin Diesel Facebook, Kevin Winter, Alberto E. Rodriguez & Junko Kimura/Getty Images]
