News Analysis India

Tag: Justin Lin

  • Shang-Chi star Simu Liu to star in Seven Wonders

    By Express News Service

    Simu Liu, who rose to international prominence with Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, has been cast as the lead for Amazon Prime Video’s upcoming series Seven Wonders.

    Justin Lin, known for Star Trek: Beyond and the recent entries in the Fast and the Furious series, is all set to direct the series. Liu will also executive produce the show while director Lin will produce it under his banner Perfect Storm Entertainment.

    The series is based on a globe-trotting thriller novel of the same name written by author Ben Mezrich, which was first published in 2005. Adam Cozad, who wrote the 2016 film The Legend of Tarzan, has been roped in to write the series. 

    Ben Mezrich is best known for writing the book Accidental Billionaire, which chronicled the rise of Facebook and its founders. The book became the inspiration for the Academy Award-winning film The Social Network.

    In the vein of Indiana Jones and Da Vinci Code, the series follows a Botanist-adventurer who has to race against time to solve an ancient mystery connected to the Seven Wonders of the world.

    (This story originally appeared on Cinema Express)

    Simu Liu, who rose to international prominence with Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, has been cast as the lead for Amazon Prime Video’s upcoming series Seven Wonders.

    Justin Lin, known for Star Trek: Beyond and the recent entries in the Fast and the Furious series, is all set to direct the series. Liu will also executive produce the show while director Lin will produce it under his banner Perfect Storm Entertainment.

    The series is based on a globe-trotting thriller novel of the same name written by author Ben Mezrich, which was first published in 2005. Adam Cozad, who wrote the 2016 film The Legend of Tarzan, has been roped in to write the series. 

    Ben Mezrich is best known for writing the book Accidental Billionaire, which chronicled the rise of Facebook and its founders. The book became the inspiration for the Academy Award-winning film The Social Network.

    In the vein of Indiana Jones and Da Vinci Code, the series follows a Botanist-adventurer who has to race against time to solve an ancient mystery connected to the Seven Wonders of the world.

    (This story originally appeared on Cinema Express)

  • Louis Leterrier to replace Justin Lin as director of 10th Fast and Furious 

    By Express News Service

    French director Louis Leterrier is likely to helm the new Fast & Furious sequel, Fast X. It may be noted that Justin Lin stepped down as director after a week of production last week. Leterrier is reportedly Universal’s choice to replace Lin, but the deal is yet to be signed because his schedule needs to be worked out.

    Leterrier is a well-known director who has directed several popular films including The Transporter, The Transporter 2, The Incredible Hulk, and Now You See Me. While, Lin had directed several of the franchise’s previous films including Fast & Furious, Fast & Furious 6, and the recent F9.

    Universal has declined to comment on the exact reason behind replacing directors of Fast X. They have only listed creative differences as the reason. Production of the film is currently taking place in London and Second Unit footage has yet to wrap, with Fast X currently set to be released on May 19, 2023.

    Lin is still staying on the film as a producer, alongside Vin Diesel, Neal Moritz, Jeff Kirschenbaum, and Samantha Vincent. He co-wrote Fast X’s script with Dan Mazeau. The film will see Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel, Sung Kang, and Charlize Theron reprise their roles from previous instalments of the Fast & Furious franchise.

  • Justin Lin drops out of Fast & Furious 10

    By Express News Service

    Fast & Furious director Justin Lin announced that he will no longer direct the franchise’s next installment Fast X, which went on floors last week. The filmmaker, who co-wrote the movie’s script with Dan Mazeau, will remain involved with the project as a producer, according to Variety.

    Lin wrote on social media, “With the support of Universal, I have made the difficult decision to step back as director of Fast X, while remaining with the project as a producer.” Over 10 years and five films, we have been able to shoot the best actors, the best stunts, and the best damn car chases,” the filmmaker’s statement continued. 

    “On a personal note, as the child of Asian immigrants, I am proud of helping to build the most diverse franchise in movie history. I will forever be grateful to the amazing cast, crew and studio for their support and for welcoming me into the FAST family.”

    Production on Fast X started on April 20, with franchise stars Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Ludacris Bridges, Nathalie Emmanuel, Sung Kang and Charlize Theron returning. New cast members include Michael Rooker, Jason Momoa, Daniela Melchior and Brie Larson. At the end of the first week of filming, Diesel posted a video to Instagram with Lin, teasing that the movie felt like “the beginning of an epic ending.”

    While promoting F9, Lin opened up to Variety about the direction of the planned tenth and eleventh installments of the franchise, saying he and Diesel began charting the road map nearly a decade ago.Sources say that production on the main unit has briefly paused while Universal locks in a replacement director, while the second unit continues filming.Fast X is planned for a May 19, 2023 theatrical release. Lin directed five Fast and Furious movies since 2006.

  • Jason Momoa joining Vin Diesel in ‘Fast and Furious 10’

    By ANI

    WASHINGTON: Universal Pictures never fail to impress their fans! This time they are adding ‘Aquaman’ star Jason Momoa to play a key role in the upcoming part of Vin Diesel lead ‘Fast and Furious’ film series.

    As per The Hollywood Reporter, Momoa is in final negotiations to join the cast of what is being called ‘Fast and Furious 10’ as a working title.

    Reports suggest the plot details are being muffled and the ‘Aquaman’ actor could be one of the film’s villains.

    Justin Lin, who returned to the franchise with 2021’s ‘F9: The Fast Saga,’ is back to don the director’s hat. Longtime stars Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges and Sung Kang are also returning for the 10th installment.

    Charlize Theron, who first appeared in the eighth film, ‘The Fate of the Furious,’ and returned for F9, is also expected to be back.

    Diesel and Lin are producing the 10th installment.

    The search for a new star began after Dwayne Johnson refused to return to the franchise, despite Diesel’s plea for him to come back after skipping F9.

    However, because the script is still a work in progress, it is unclear whether Momoa’s part is protagonist or antagonistic in nature, or perhaps even both.

    It is unclear who else would return for Fast 10 which shoots this spring. Universal currently has the movie set for a May 19, 2023, release.

  • F9  gets Indian release date

    By Express News Service
    The highly anticipated ninth instalment of the Fast and Furious series, F9, is set to hit Indian screens on August 5. The film has already been released in some parts of the world, including the US, Canada, China, Russia, and Korea. Despite the mixed critical reception, the film has raked in over $500 million worldwide.

    The franchise enjoys substantial fan-following in India and the announcement makes it one of the biggest films set to release after a dry spell at the box office. Directed by Justin Lin, the film saw the return of franchise regulars including Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, and Tyrese Gibson, as well as new additions such as John Cena and Michael Rooker.

    Helen Mirren, who was featured in the franchise’s spin-off, Hobbs and Shaw, also appeared in F9. Moreover, Vin Diesel recently confirmed that the tenth and final instalment of the franchise will be released in parts, with filming set to commence in January next year.