In an overwhelmingly optimistic statement, star and producer of the Fast and Furious saga Vin Diesel has doubled down on his commitment to the franchise’s latest entry, Fast and Furious 9, receiving an exclusive theatrical release.
F9, which is set to release on May 28 2021, has been subject to several delays, as its original release was slated for April 2019.
The reasons for those delays are undoubtedly obvious, but despite the fact that the pandemic is far from over, Diesel still hopes that F9 will see the inside of theaters.
In a recent interview with Total Film Magazine, Diesel said:
“I’m so committed to the theatrical experience. Obviously, I’ve dedicated my life to [the cinema]. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that we’re going to be there on May 28 with a movie that everybody is going to want to see together.”
Vin Diesel, Total Film Magazine
Diesel’s new co-star, John Cena, has already made separate comments of a similar sentiment.
Cena is set to star as Diesel’s onscreen brother Jakob (which is a pretty big retcon for the franchise), and F9 will also feature at least a small amount of space travel – which will most likely be done in a car, because spaceships aren’t nearly furious enough.
While F9 has been a long time coming, and fans are naturally keen to see the continuation of the franchise, it seems unlikely that Diesel’s hopes for a full theatrical release will come to pass.
It’s worth noting that Diesel’s comments are no doubt informed by the planned widespread rollout of a vaccine, and that none of the team behind the movie have condoned any potential dangerous or law-breaking activities when it comes to seeing their movie. The F9 team’s hopes for a theatrical release plainly come from a place of passion for both their franchise and for cinema in general, and they mirror the hopes of film fanatics everywhere that we’ll soon be munching on popcorn and craning our necks to see around a stranger’s head once more.