Vin Diesel, who is on a promo run for "Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk," spent some time during his interview with Entertainment Tonight to give fans an update on Fast 8.
Compared to previous installments in the "Fast & Furious" series, Diesel explained the eighth edition is different and very dark. "My character is conflicted in a way that is really going to shock you," he said. "He’s coming off of a lot of emotion Seven, and the loss that seven represents… it’s kind of cold-blooded. It is going to hit you like a ton of bricks. Everything is going to make sense."
Later in the interview, Diesel commended the work of director F. Gary Gray, who is coming off the success of the N.W.A. biopic "Straight Outta Compton." He strongly believes Fast 8 is on a path to Oscar glory for the director.
"As crazy as that might sound, he should have really been acknowledged for 'Straight Outta Compton.' I think he went into making this movie with a little bit of a chip [on his shoulder], going 'Oh, really? Now I’m going to take the biggest saga in the world, and I’m about to throw Oscars at you.' Wait until you see what he does!" Diesel said.
This isn’t exactly the first time Diesel has nominated "Fast & Furious" movies for Oscars. He previously told the Los Angeles Times "Fast Five" had a shot an Oscar at the 2011 Academy Awards, while he told Variety "Furious 7" would be "the biggest movie in history," adding it could "probably win best picture at the Oscars, unless the Oscars don’t want to be relevant ever."
We’ll just have to wait and see if Diesel is right. "Fast & Furious 8" is in theaters April 14, 2017.
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