‘Fast and Furious 8′ casts Charlize Theron as new villain

FILE – This file photo provided by Universal Pictures shows, Vin Diesel, left, as Dom Toretto, and Jason Statham, as Deckard Shaw, in a scene from “Furious 7.” The high-octane thriller “Furious 7” maintained its pace in its second week, speeding away with $60.6 million at North American theaters, bringing its box-office total to a robust $252.5 million, according to studio estimates Sunday, April 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Universal Pictures, Scott Garfield, File)

It’s official—Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron will be new thorn in the side of Dominic Toretto and his rag-tag crew of speedsters.

The news was confirmed through a photo posted on the franchise’s official Twitter account on Thursday, with the caption:

Our crew will face its greatest adversary in our next film. Welcome Charlize Theron to the Fast family. 4.14.17. #F8

Our crew will face its greatest adversary in our next film. Welcome Charlize Theron to the Fast family. 4.14.17. #F8 pic.twitter.com/6QIQz6UcWR

— Fast & Furious (@FastFurious) April 7, 2016

Theron usually plays the ‘good girl’ role during most of her films, but the 40-year-old actress has also received widespread praise for her portrayal as the evil queen Ravenna, in the Huntsman series.

Citing reports from Variety,  Theron’s casting has apparently been in the works for quite some time, and FF producers had approached her even before the script was ready.

The Mad Max:Fury Road star, however, refused to commit to the film before it was finished.

Theron will be the first notable female antagonist of the popular street-racing franchise, with prominent male action stars Luke Evans and Jason Statham playing heel in the previous instalments.

The Fast and Furious 8 is set for an April 2017 release, with Straight Outta Compton director F. Garry Gray at the helm. Khristian Ibarrola, INQUIRER.NET