When Universal Pictures released a behind-the-scenes video of the ongoing filming for “Fast & Furious 8” late last month, it featured Vin Diesel, who plays Dominic ‘Dom’ Toretto, and Michelle Rodriguez, who plays Letty Ortiz, surveying the streets of Havana onboard a 1955 Chevrolet. A video clip of the street races also featured vintage jalopies.
Although “Fast & Furious 8” is the first American film to shoot in Cuba after the 1960s embargo has been lifted a few years ago, Cuba actually has a robust filmmaking community.
However, the country lacks the technical infrastructure required by an elaborate production for a big movie like “Fast & Furious 8.” But the production team appears to be having no problem with filming in the country since starting late last month.
Sometime last month, to mark the important milestone in American film history, Director F. Gary Gray started filming in style with a welcome greeting from the locals to the “Fast & Furious” cast members and extended family.
The movie, to be shown on April 14, 2017, is the follow-up to “Fast & Furious 7,” the most successful and the highest-grossing film of the franchise when it was released to global theaters in April of last year.
It was also the franchise’s hearty sendoff to the late Paul Walker and his character, Brian O’Connor.
Universal Pictures already confirmed that “Fast & Furious 8” will be the first of the final trilogy with the 10th and final film expected to commemorate the franchise’s 20th anniversary and is seen to come out in April 2021.