STACK August 2017 Issue 154

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take him on and stand against him? It’s unique
and, at times, a little scary. It’s great drama for
the franchise, and it gave us a reason to move
forward in a compelling way.”
At the wheel of The Fate of the Furious is
Straight Outta Compton director F. Gary Gray,
who accepted the job because it was so unlike
anything he’d done previously – much like the
themes that drive the plot.
“Artists dig in more when they feel
challenged, and this was a major challenge
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With the devastating passing of Paul
Walker towards the end of filming
Furious 7 , many were unsure
whether this would mean the end of the road
for the Fast and Furious franchise. After much
deliberation, however, Vin Diesel and the
team of producers decided to move the series
forward in a direction many thought it would
never take – what if Dominic Toretto turned his
back on his family?
When millions of fans tuned into the world
premiere trailer for The Fate of the Furious,
they were left gobsmacked – Dom would never
turn his back on those he held nearest and
dearest. And as such, they knew there had to
be a good reason.
“With Furious 7, our focus was to not
only make the best film in the saga, but to
honour what it has represented for almost two
decades,” says star and producer Diesel. “The
key to this next chapter is to challenge those
core themes that have endured, and to do it in
a way that is compelling but still entertaining.
I only wanted to continue the saga if we were
going to collectively make the best final trilogy
for ourselves, for the legacy of our brother Paul,
and for Universal, who’s been so supportive
over the years.”
F8 screenwriter Chris Morgan has been
with the series since Tokyo Drift, and was
determined to shake up the usual dynamic
for this film. “The Fate of the Furiousis really
about the after effects of a profound moment
that threatens to shatter everything you believe
in,” he explains. “What happens when the
central figure of your family, the one who
preached the lesson of never turning your
back on each other, breaks those rules? What
happens if he goes dark and his family has to
Fateful
visit DVD&BD FEATURE
Vin Diesel and crew are
back in the driver’s seat
for The Fate of the Furious,
only this time it’s family
ties that are at stake.
Words Adam Colby
Vin Diesel
The Fate of the Furious is
really about the after effects
of a profound moment
that threatens to shatter
everything you believe in
034 AUGUST 2017