While it was a minor miracle that “Furious 7” was completed, let alone turned out to be pretty okay, the “Fast & Furious” franchise is forging on with what could be a new chapter in the series’ run if the first poster of “Furious 8” is to be believed.

After James Wan opted out, a lengthy director search zeroed in on F Gary Gray, fresh out of the smashing success of the NWA biopic “Straight Outta Compton”.

And now, with the film having just set Charlize Theron to play the villain and production scheduled to begin within a matter of months, Diesel has unveiled the new film’s first poster on his Facebook page. It’s very much a teaser mock-up, but the tagline “New Roads Ahead” hints at this eighth installment opening up a new chapter in the series’ legacy, especially with Walker now absent from the franchise with his character given a fitting — and touching — sendoff at the end of “Furious 7”.

Universal has already set release dates for “Fast & Furious 9” and “Fast & Furious 10” for April 19, 2019 and April 2, 2021, respectively, so it’s possible that “Furious 8” will be a beginning of the end of sorts, setting up this concluding trilogy of films. Or it’s possible that the franchise will continue in perpetuity, given that “Furious 7” went on to gross $1.5 billion worldwide.

“Furious 8” also stars Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Bridges, Eva Mendes, Kurt Russell, Kristofer Hivju, and Scott Eastwood and opens in theatres on April 14, 2017.

Source: Collider