'Fast And Furious 8' News: 'Furious' Sequel May Be Filmed In Cuba
"Fast and Furious 8," the follow-up to the 2015 blockbuster hit "Furious 7," may be filmed in Cuba, which would make it the first major studio project to shoot on the previously embargoed nation, The Hollywood Reporter announced.
In a statement from Universal Pictures, which has distributed all seven installments of the "Fast and Furious" franchise, the company said that it is "currently in the process [of] seeking approval from the United States and Cuban governments to explore shooting a portion of the next installment of the 'Fast & Furious' series in Cuba."
"The Fast and the Furious" is Universal's biggest franchise to date. Previous films in the series have taken its cast members to various international locales, including Abu Dhabi, London, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, and the Canary Islands.
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According to THR's sources, "Furious 8" director F. Gary Gray recently conducted a scouting trip in Cuba and the necessary paperwork to get permission to shoot on the island has been filed. Should "Furious 8" get its permits, it would be the first Hollywood studio film to be shot in Cuba since the United States imposed a financial, commercial, and economic embargo against the nation in the 1960s.
The Obama administration re-established U.S. relations with Cuba in 2014 and in January 2015, travel restrictions for U.S. citizens going to Cuba were lightened. There is now a U.S. Embassy on the island and in March 2015, Conan O'Brien shot an episode of his late-night TBS show in Havana. "Papa," an indie film based on the life of Ernest Hemingway, was filmed in Cuba in early 2014, making it the first Hollywood film to shoot there since the embargo.
According to "Papa" director Bob Yari, Cuba is a beautiful place in which to shoot a movie, but said that it lacks the infrastructure and equipment necessary for filming a major production. "The crews are wonderful," he said, adding, "They're very dedicated and passionate about what they do, but they're not used to the pace of U.S. filmmaking."
Fortunately, Cuba isn't the only setting for "Furious 8" as most of the production will be based in Atlanta, with other international locations, including Iceland and Russia, also in consideration.
"Furious 8" is set to hit theaters on April 14, 2017.
