A brand new television series adapted from the phenomenally successful Fast & Furious cinematic universe is currently in development for the Peacock streaming platform.
NBCUniversal confirmed the news on Monday following a high-profile presentation to advertisers at Radio City Music Hall.
The project was unveiled by Vin Diesel, the actor famously known for portraying the street-racing patriarch Dominic Toretto. Interestingly, while the 58-year-old star excitedly told the crowd that four separate programmes were in the pipeline, a subsequent press release from NBCUniversal clarified that only a single Fast & Furious show is officially in the works.
From initial hesitation to global phenomenon
During the event, Diesel admitted he originally harboured deep reservations about creating cinematic sequels to the initial street racing saga. He confessed to fearing that expanding the universe might hinder the original 2001 film from ever achieving true classic status.
Those fears have evidently been quelled by the passage of time and immense commercial success. This Wednesday, the prestigious Cannes Film Festival will celebrate the high-octane franchise’s 25th anniversary with a special midnight screening to formally honour its cinematic legacy. Diesel is set to attend the glamorous French event alongside several of his long-time co-stars.
Since its debut over two decades ago, the 11 films comprising the action-packed saga have generated an astonishing $7 bn at the global box office.
Expanding the Toretto empire
The brand’s relentless expansion reaches far beyond film and streaming. A thrilling new Fast & Furious rollercoaster is scheduled to launch at Universal Studios Hollywood this summer and another major attraction is already planned for Universal’s Orlando theme parks.
Diesel stated, acknowledging that dedicated viewers are desperate to witness the continued evolution of their favourite characters and explosive storylines.
The actor heaped praise upon Donna Langley, the chairman and chief content officer of NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios who currently oversees the company’s film and television output. Diesel credited her leadership as the primary reason he finally agreed to transition the films to a television format.
