At the FuelFest auto-racing festival, Vin Diesel, star of the Fast & Furious franchise, told fans that he had met with Universal Pictures executives who pushed for the next installment to be released by April 2027. Diesel stated he agreed on three conditions: the franchise must return to its Los Angeles and street-racing origins, and his character, Dominic Toretto, must reunite with his former partner, played by the late Paul Walker.
However, the future of the franchise is more uncertain than Diesel's announcement suggested. According to people familiar with the matter, the next sequel does not have an approved script, a release date, or secured deals for most of the cast. Universal executives are hesitant to proceed unless the film can be produced far more economically than the last one, which struggled to turn a profit.
Over its 25-year history, the 11 Fast & Furious movies have grossed a total of $7.3 billion, making it Universal's most successful brand, known for its over-the-top car stunts and a large, diverse cast emphasizing family bonds. But the franchise is now facing the same challenges as other major Hollywood series like Marvel, DC, and Transformers, where production costs remain high while box office earnings decline.
The 2023 entry, "Fast X," was the series' most expensive film with a $340 million budget, yet it was the lowest-grossing release in over a decade at $705 million. Consequently, Universal executives have informed filmmakers that another sequel will not be greenlit unless its budget is capped at around $200 million, a figure that would ensure a healthy profit even with lower grosses.
The current plan is for the next movie to serve as a capstone for the existing cast. Producer Neal Moritz stated, "The only thing we’re focused on is making this a satisfying finale both creatively and financially." Following this finale, Universal is exploring less expensive creative avenues, including a live-action television series and spinoff films, to revive interest for a new generation. The release date for the next film remains unconfirmed by Universal, despite Diesel's initial social media post suggesting an April 2025 date, a later mention of 2026 by director Louis Leterrier, and the most recent April 2027 declaration at FuelFest. Those involved with the project hope to begin shooting next spring for a 2027 release.
They aim to set the film largely in Los Angeles, which presents budgetary challenges due to higher labor costs and less generous tax credits. The most recent script draft for "Fast X: Part 2" has an estimated cost of $250 million, which is still $50 million above the studio's target. To reduce costs, filmmakers are considering shooting in fewer international locations and reducing the roles of some cast members. Agents for the actors are not expecting salary increases. The filmmakers have not yet decided whether they will use technology to feature Paul Walker's character again.