Veteran horror filmmaker James Wan may direct Fast and Furious 7 for the folks at Universal.
The director is known for putting together some of the more memorable genre flicks in recent memory. Although he’s primarily known for his work in horror, Wan could soon put his skills to good use in the next installment of Universal’s very popular franchise.
James Wan and the studio are currently in talks to seal the proverbial deal on the project. An insider told Deadline that everything is expected to be hammered out by the end of this week.
The Saw director wasn’t the only filmmaker Universal had in mind for Fast and Furious 7 . Baltazar Kormakur ( Contraband , 2 Guns ), Jeff Wadlow ( Kick-Ass 2 , and Harold Zwart ( The Karate Kid remake) were also reportedly in the running for the gig.
Justin Lin, the man who is credited with helping reinvigorate the franchise, said in January that he wouldn’t step behind the camera for the seventh installment. He explained that Universal was moving a little faster than he was in regards to Fast and Furious 7 .
It’s not altogether surprising that the studio is looking to capitalize on the series while fans are still wanting more. Fast Five was the most successful entry to-date. However, Fast and Furious 6 is expected to make a ton of money when it arrives in theaters this May.
In addition to Fast and Furious 7 , the studio is said to be working on a spin-off movie featuring Dwayne Johnson’s character Luke Hobbs. The movie is expected to arrive between the sixth and seventh installments of the franchise.
Vin Diesel revealed earlier this month that the next sequel would likely begin production this summer. The actor has been keeping fans up-to-date on Facebook. If Diesel’s report is to be believed, then fans should anticipate another entry at some point next year.
James Wan and Warner Bros. are currently preparing to unleash The Conjuring into theaters this summer. The director is also preparing a sequel to his hit 2010 horror flick Insidious .
Are you a fan of James Wan? Do you think he’s the right person to tackle Fast and Furious 7 ?