by: S. Scott Stanikmas

It’s time for one last ride…three more times.

In a series that has long overstayed it’s predicted shelf life (but has seemingly gotten better with each installment from the fourth one up), it would seem the finish line is in sight for the Fast and Furious franchise.

Vin Diesel, the actor behind series star Domenic Toretto and executive producer on the series, took to Facebook recently to try and settle down some of the rumors and clear the air regarding the gossip that he’s being difficult to work with. And in doing so he also dropped a couple of bits about the upcoming Furious 8 and the future of the series:

The fans of the Fast & Furious SAGA are the best fans in the world… Since I became the Producer in 2008, you have been with me every step of the way… literally giving me feedback that proved invaluable. Thank you.

My producing partner Neal would love for me to just sign off on a director, but this is too special a franchise, so these matters have to be very carefully handled. To be clear, NO ONE has been offered to helm Fast 8 yet… let alone seen a script.

Universal has been so good to me and so trusting of the vision… they have been like family… I promised the studio I would deliver one last Trilogy to end the saga.

I will announce the directors on my next post…

It’s no secret that James Wan and Justin Lin have been heavily courted to return to the series and direct more installments. But with both directors busy with other major projects Universal may have to look elsewhere for someone to helm the final films.

And you know whoever they choose is getting locked down for at least a three picture deal, in case the next sequel does even better than Furious 7.

Every film in this series seems to be the last ride and after the real-life death of series co-star Paul Walker many say that the last film should have been it, but the film raked in tons of box office receipts so another sequel was inevitable. And while not a total replacement, Lucas Black from Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift was signed on for at least three more sequels. He could be Dom’s wingman for the last three films.

However this shakes out it seems we can expect at least a few more Fast and Furious rides before Vin and company are ready to close up the garage.

…until the next time.