Per a report on Variety, ‘Fast and Furious’ director Justin Lin announced that he will no longer direct the franchise’s next installation, ‘Fast X’. Lin shared the news with a statement posted to social media, which read: “With the support of Universal, I have made the difficult decision to step back as director of Fast X, while remaining with the project as a producer.”
The filmmaker’s statement continued: “Over 10 years and five films, we have been able to shoot the best actors, the best stunts, and the best damn car chases. On a personal note, as the child of Asian immigrants, I am proud of helping to build the most diverse franchise in movie history. I will forever be grateful to the amazing cast, crew and studio for their support, and for welcoming me into the FAST family.”
Lin co-wrote the film with Dan Mazeau and will remain on as a producer. While the parting was amicable between both parties, insiders say that the real reason why Lin ultimately decided to step away from the franchise was due to “creative differences”.
Production on “Fast 10” kicked off on April 20, with franchise stars Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Nathalie Emmanuel, Sung Kang and Charlize Theron returning. New cast members include Michael Rooker, Jason Momoa, Daniela Melchior and Brie Larson. Sources say that production on the main unit has briefly paused while Universal locks in a replacement director, while the second unit continues filming. The film is set to open in theaters on May 19, 2023.
Lin has directed five “Fast and Furious” movies, beginning with 2006’s “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.” His run with the high-octane franchise continued with 2009’s “Fast & Furious,” 2011’s “Fast Five” and 2013’s “Fast & Furious 6,” before the director returned to helm the most recent instalment 2011’s “F9: The Fast Saga.”
