Teaser for ‘Fast 8’ – Image via Vin Diesel’s Instagram
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Remember the time Daniel Day Lewis and Al Pacino co-starred in that “Transformers” movie? Me neither.
That didn’t stop Charlize Theron who signed on for “Fast 8” a while ago, and it apparently won’t stop Helen Mirren from doing the same, according to The Guardian.
“I’ve always rather loved driving,” the dame told the British newspaper. (That’s not a pejorative, she’s actually a Dame of the Order of the British Empire.)
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Mirren and Theron officially add twice as many Oscars to the eighth installment of the movie franchise as the previous seven had altogether. It’s unclear if Mirren will join Theron as a villain in the upcoming movie—Theron’s character is hilariously named Cipher—that will make its debut next April.
Before you start thinking the “Fast” empire has been all churched up, it’s worth pointing out that the two Academy Award winners will be joined by action-genre meat bags Vin Diesel, Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson and Ludacris. (Yes, I’m aware that Diesel was in a Sidney Lumet film. Still, he’s probably not America’s greatest thespian.)
Still, like our colleagues over at The Car Connection pointed out, this is a fairly sizable turn for the lucrative film series. Two Oscar-winning performers signing on is one thing, but two female Oscar-winning performers signing on to a guns-and-gears-type film franchise is a serious shift toward actual consideration and (maybe, kinda?) award contention.
Pass the popcorn.
