STOP EVERYTHING: Helen Mirren Will Definitely Be In ‘Fast 8’
Mirren is joining the family!
Wonder of wonder, miracle of miracles: Academy Award winner Dame Helen Mirren, has confirmed that she will definitely appear in the next Fast and the Furious film.
In my mind, this is how it happened: after hearing Dame Helen express admiration for the greatest franchise of all time last year, Vin Diesel immediately picked up his car phone (he has Dame Helen on speed dial — don’t ask) and sealed the deal while he was suspended in mid-air over the Pacific Ocean.
Mirren told Elle: “I’m about to do Fast and Furious 8. But that’s for the fun of it. So maybe that’s what I want as well, some fun and some relevant, serious, important movies,”she said. “I love big, fun movies — as long as they’re well made and they’ve got good scripts. That’s the most important thing.”
AHHHHHH.
This is fantastic news simply on the level that Helen Mirren will be racing cars in a Fast and the Furious film (apparently it was a non-negotiable that she would actually be allowed to drive in the movie, because she’s “always rather loved driving”) but also because it’s nice to hear an actor who is dripping in the prestige of the ‘right’ kind of entertainment, recognise that silly blockbusters can still be considered important if they’re artfully made. Maybe Vin will finally get the Oscar he thinks the franchise deserves!
Fast 8 has already begun production and will be released early next year. Take a second and enjoy this, friends. Life will never be this good again.