FAST & FURIOUS 5: EUROPE?

Earlier today, Screen Junkies attended the Fast & Furious junket in Hollywood.  We had a chance to sit down at a roundtable Q&A with most of the principal cast, including Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Paul Walker and Vin Diesel, as well as director Justin Lin.  Probably the juiciest tidbit of information that came out of the sit-down was the hint of where the series might go - literally - should Universal decide to manufacture an even newer model.

First up was Paul Walker, who seemed laid back and comfortable to answer everything thrown at him as candidly as possible.  When asked if he was already contracted out for another installment, Walker responded:

"No but I've heard it. I've heard it in the rumor mill.  Like, I've spoken with executives at Universal at this point, and they're pretty serious about it.  They know where they want it to take place. They want to do it in Europe."

Walker expressed an interest in doing the film, as long as certain measures were taken.

"I really want everyone to put in their due diligence... to put time into it.  I don't think it would be too hard to make the very best one yet.  I don't think the best one yet has been made yet.  If we were to go make a fitth one, that would be the best one.  In my mind.  Otherwise let's not do it."

Walker suggested that co-star Vin Diesel was definitely already involved in developing a fifth film in the series.  "Vin's in there already, so you know, I'd like to get my day in court.  But [Vin's] got a big voice and he stays on it."

Diesel seemed to back up the idea that his character could easily be put in another film, and in a similar, badass capacity as in the others.  "I don't think [my character, Dominic Toretto] has a choice.  I think he's that quintessential anti-hero." 

In response to Collider's Steve "Frosty" Weintraub asking about Europe as a potential backdrop for FF5 and whether or not he was already thinking ahead, Diesel gave a unique insight into his methods:

"I think a few pictures at a time.  I try to work out the stories and I try to approach sequels in that Coppola way.  I try to think out the story. Even before we shoot the film.  So yes, I have been thinking about that. I actually thought about shooting both of the movies back to back, with Universal, but [Universal] was like, 'What?  We're just getting our feet back together...'" 

While Universal didn't give him his back to back Fast & Furious pics, Diesel did get to direct an 18-minute short film within the world of the series.  It'll be available exclusively on the Fast & Furious DVD and Blu-Ray.