Apparently, Vin Diesel Wants To Direct “Furious 8” (And They Should Totally Let Him)

There’s discord in the Toretto household, with news emerging that the producers of Furious 8 are having a hard-time finding a director…

… and they really want one, because Vin Diesel might eventually step up and decide to take over the camera himself.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Furious 7 director James Wan turned down a “life-altering” amount of money to helm its sequel because of health issues he acquired during the seven-quel’s stressful shoot (which, in fairness, did involve the death of star Paul Walker).

Previous instalment helmer Justin Lin is also unable to return, too busy with Star Trek 3 , which has Universal Pictures very worried, because that April 2017 release date for F8 is fast emerging.

THR claims the studio is concerned that producer, star and aspiring filmmaker Diesel will eventually insist on directing the thing himself, and if he puts his hand up for the gig, it’ll be very difficult to turn him down.

(Diesel has to be consulted on any incoming directors, and the story goes he often summons filmmakers for “late-night script sessions to make him comfortable with his character and dialogue”, which, if you’ve seen any of these movies, is hilarious.)

I say, give Diesel Furious 8. This franchise is a reliable money-spinner and there are supposedly three more sequels on the table, so if he messes up this one, they can always recover the reputation with parts nine and ten.

Besides, this franchise is delightfully, deliriously bonkers already. Imagine the possibilities of a version that's been entirely processed through Diesel himself.

Let this happen, Universal. Come on: he’s family.