Justin Lin announces exit as director of ‘Fast X’
By Ryan General
Filmmaker Justin Lin has announced that he is no longer directing “Fast X,” the 10th installment of the “Fast & Furious” franchise.
Lin, who co-wrote the film with screenwriter Dan Mazeau, made the surprise announcement on Tuesday via the film’s official Instagram account.
“With the support of Universal, I have made the difficult decision to step back as director of FAST X, while remaining with the project as a producer,” he wrote in his statement.
The Taiwanese American filmmaker did not elaborate on his reasons for leaving, but he expressed appreciation for over a decade of involvement with the franchise.
“Over 10 years and five films, we have been able to shoot the best actors, the best stunts, and the best damn car chases,” he wrote. “On a personal note, as the child of Asian immigrants, I am proud of helping to build the most diverse franchise in movie history.”
“I will forever be grateful to the amazing cast, crew and studio for their support, and for welcoming me into the FAST family,” concluded the 50-year-old director.
The announcement came just over a week after “Fast X” began filming. Actors Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Sung Kang, Ludacris, Jordana Brewster, Cardi B, Michael Rooker, Charlize Theron, Tyrese Gibson and Nathalie Emmanuel are expected to reprise their roles. Brie Larson, Daniela Melchior and Jason Momoa will be joining the film’s cast for the upcoming installment.
Days before Lin’s announcement, Diesel posted an Instagram video of him and Lim talking about “Fast X” at the end of the first week of shooting.
Lin, whose last directorial job for the franchise was last year’s “F9,” also helmed “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” in 2006, “Fast & Furious” in 2009, “Fast Five” in 2011 and “Fast & Furious 6” in 2013.
“Fast X” is set to release in the U.S. on May 19, 2023. Lin’s replacement has yet to be announced.
Featured Image via @vindiesel
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