Prior to April 2017, Helen Mirren and the Fast and Furious franchise are two things we’d never imagine would belong in the same sentence. And yet, here we are.
As Magdalene Shaw, she was the kick-ass mother of the roguish Deckard (Jason Statham) and Owen Shaw (Luke Evans), and even helped Vin Diesel retrieve his long-lost son in Fate of the Furious – Mama Shaw’s heroics know no bounds, it seems.
But now that F. Gary Gray’s petrolhead sequel has cruised all the way to $1.16 billion worldwide, Universal is beginning to compose another two entries in its lucrative franchise, beginning with the so-far untitled Fast and Furious 9. Aside from a tentative 2020 release date and rumors of Justin Lin returning at the helm, the Powers That Be have been keeping everything under wraps. Leave it to Helen Mirren, then, to break the silence and toss her hat into the ring.
When asked about a potential return by Yahoo Movies, the illustrious actress made no bones about wanting to reprise the role of Magdalene Shaw:
I hope so. I’m sort of quietly maneuvering. But I love it, it would be brilliant. I love that character.
There is one change she’d request, though, and that’s more airtime for her on-screen character – specifically, she’d like to be put behind the wheel of a really fast car.
This time, definitely. Absolutely. Essential, instead of being stuck in [the back seat].
Universal, make it happen! Now approaching its 20th anniversary, the Fast and Furious franchise is still of huge importance to the studio, and one need only look to the fledgling Dark Universe for an example of a series that struggled to get off on the right foot. Fast and Furious 9, on the other hand, will speed into theaters on April 10th, 2020 – with or without Helen Mirren.
