If you were not planning to see the next installment of the Fast and Furious franchise, it's time reevaluate your life choices. In an interview with Elle released in June, Helen Mirren confirmed she is in Fast 8, the latest movie in the Fast & Furious blockbuster franchise. Yes, this is the actual coolest thing that has ever happened. Now the big question is, who will Mirren play in Fast 8 ? While the actress did not reveal her role to Elle, past interviews with Mirren suggest she could be the franchise's latest villain.
In March 2015, Mirren told Yahoo News, "I so want to be a mad driver in a Fast and Furious movie." Now Mirren's dream could be coming true. While it is unclear whether or not Mirren will be the bad guy causing trouble for Dominic (Vin Diesel) and his crew, Mirren's need for speed practically guarantees she will end up in at least one race scene which automatically earns Fast 8 the title of best Fast and Furious movie.
"I've always rather loved driving," Mirren told Elle. "I said, 'I'll be in it, but only if I'm allowed to drive if I do drive in it.' But we'll see. We'll see how it transpires." Come on, her new best friend Vin Diesel has to put her behind the wheel after that — besides, Mirren already proved her driving prowess on Top Gear.
If Mirren is the villain in the new movie, here is hoping she is a seasoned drag racer with her very own car gang. Sure, she could be law enforcement, but it would be way more fun if Dom and his crew wander onto her turf and meet the grande dame of street racing. Mirren can do anything, as she has proven in the past. Playing a slightly evil speed demon who rules the streets could be one of her most memorable roles to date.
One snag in Mirren's quest to be the movie's big bad could be Charlize Theron who has already signed on as the villainous Cipher. While Mirren could play Cipher's mother who taught Cipher everything she knows, there are other roles Mirren could fill in the movie as well. My personal favorite option is she could be an old friend of Dom's who taught him how to drive when he was just a kid. After seven movies, Dom is due a more detailed backstory and adding Mirren to the mix is one way to make a lesson in the history of Dom go down smooth.
Whoever Mirren is playing in Fast 8 is going to be an instant fan favorite. It is impossible for Dame Mirren not to own every movie she is in, and Fast 8 is no different. And hey, if all goes well, maybe the next Fast and Furious movie will be about a totally badass British car enthusiast and her all female team of speed racers. I feel like Mirren would be totally down for that.
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