FAST AND FURIOUS 5 Gearing Up

As if there was ever any question this was going to happen, Variety is reporting a fifth installment in the FAST AND THE FURIOUS franchise has officially gotten the green light.   The working title for the new film is FAST FIVE, and it will bring Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, producer Neal Moritz, and direcotr Justin Lin back together for one, more outing.

I’m not going to say one, “final” outing, because, if this film makes as much money as the last collaboration between these four, we’ll be sure to have FAST AND FURIOUS films hitting our local cinemas every other year until kingdom come.   2009’s FAST AND FURIOUS, which featured the return of Walker and Diesel to the franchise, made over $155 million in domestic box office, making it the most successful film in the franchise to date.   That was without the benefit of a July release, something the other three films in the franchise did have to their advantage.

Chris Morgan is returning, as well, to screenwriting duties, and early word on the film’s plot involves Walker’s Brian and Diesel’s Dominic once again on the run from the law.   I guess that falls into that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” category, and this new film is sure to make a mint, as well, especially if Universal decides to aim for a Summer release.

Shooting is expected to begin later this year with release sometime in 2011.