As is the fashion these days, news of F. Gary Gray’s deal to direct Furious 8 for Universal Pictures came courtesy of social media. The comedic exchanges have grown to become major touchstones of the “Furious” movies, particularly with the characters played by Ludacris and Tyrese Gibson. We’ve yet to hear a reaction from Diesel himself – he’s now in the middle of promoting The Last Witch Hunter – but it shouldn’t be long before he follows up; hopefully we’ll also find out how his mom feels about the whole thing.
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Universal along with Diesel and Moritz have been hard at work searching for their next director after Fast and Furious 7 helmer James Wan made a decision to not helm the eighth installment.
Other helmers who met included The Signal Will Eubank, The Guest Adam Wingard, and Louis Leterrier but in the end it was Gray who won the approval of both execs and Diesel.
After rumors earlier this week that he was in talks with Universal about taking on the latest chapter in the “Fast and Furious” saga, Gray confirmed the news today (October 8) with a post on his Facebook.
Gray is coming off the hit NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton, and has previous with Diesel, having directed him in the action drama A Man Apart in 2003. The film went on to make $1.5 billion at the worldwide box office.
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Gray is repped by UTA, Principato-Young and attorney Nina Shaw.
