Fast and Furious 8' to Change the Franchise? [Release Date, Cast, Plot & Rumors]

The "Fast and Furious" franchise has its fair share of changes, with a rotating cast of characters and different locations seemingly in every movie. The popular action series is set to see even more change in its next installment.

Cinema Blend reports that action star Vin Diesel recently confirmed during an interview on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" that the setting for "Fast and Furious 8" will indeed be New York City. The movie had been previously hinted by Diesel to be featured in the Big Apple, but it wasn't until his confirmation that the location was set in stone.

While New York has been confirmed for the next film, it doesn't mean that the city will be the only location that will be featured. Most likely, the city that never sleeps will be the first city introduced and like the other films, Dom and his crew will be sent globetrotting for whatever mission they need to do.

According to Screen Rant, Diesel also confirmed that the film now has its director in the form of F. Gary Gray, who recently directed the Rap Documentary "Straight Out of Compton." The actor also informed fans that the movie is now back on track for the scheduled 2017 release.

Currently, however, there is little to no information about the plot for "Fast and Furious 8", and this could be caused by the lack of a script attached to the film. Moreover, several of the characters who are currently still alive in the series have not yet signed for another film, which according to Diesel, will be the first of a trilogy to end the franchise.

"Fast and Furious 8" will also be the first time that Diesel will be starring without Paul Walker, who died in a car accident during the filming of the last installment of the series. Walker's character Brian was written off the series, and it will be interesting how Diesel's character Dom will be dealing with not having Brian around.

Currently, the only other actors to confirm their involvement in the film is Jason Statham, who played a villain in the last film and will likely continue to be one in the next film, as well as Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who has played fan favorite Hobbs since "Fast and Furious 6." Rumors have also been circulating that Hobbs may get his own spinoff movie in the near future.

As it stands "Fast and Furious 8" is set to hit theaters on April 14, 2017.