Charlize Theron in talks to play a villain in ‘Fast 8’

Variety does say that while Theron and Universal Pictures are in negotiations, it is “unclear” how far along they are.

The biggest vehicle chases and demolition derbys of the last few years have come fromMad Max: Fury Road and the Fast and the Furious movies.

According to Deadline, the eighth film in the lucrative Fast & Furious franchise will have a sole female villain and Universal has its eye on an Oscar-winning actress for the part.

If Theron accepts the role, she should be able to transition well.

Production is set to get rolling this spring in the F. Gary Gray-directed film with a premiere date set for April 17, 2017.

If Charlize Theron does sign on, she will join Michelle Rodriguez, who is expected to return as Leti, alongside Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto, Dwayne Johnson as Hobbs and Jason Statham as Ian Shaw.

Theron is attached to star in “The Gray Man” for Sony, but the film is going through a rewrite to change the main character from male to female, making it possible to fit both movie into her schedule.

Diesel recently announced that there’s a whole new trilogy in the works, with Fast 9 due in 2019 and Fast 10 (sweet Jesus) scheduled for 2021.

Keep posted for casting updates for “Fast 8”.