The “Fast & Furious” franchise is adding a live show to the mix, as it will embark on a global live-arena tour next year, it was announced Tuesday.
Universal has joined forces with Brand Events to present “Fast & Furious Live,” a stunt show based on memorable scenes and using favorite cars from the franchise’s eight films, treating audiences to flaming exhausts and vehicular acrobatics on a set recreating the underground streets of Los Angeles. It’s set for debut in January, 2018.
“‘Fast & Furious Live’ will transform the live-entertainment industry in the same way the global box-office franchise has redefined the action genre,” said Vince Klaseus, President of Universal Brand Development. “Fans will experience everything they love about the films in an up-close and incredibly cool live show, putting them in the center of the action.”
“In addition to its arrival as a global live-arena tour, the launch of ‘Fast & Furious Live’ represents Universal’s significant expansion of our franchises into entertainment channels that are as unexpected as they are innovative,” added David O’Connor, Executive Vice President of Global Franchise Management and Brand Marketing at Universal Pictures. “By bringing our series to audiences in entirely new formats, we are not simply growing brand portfolios, we are delivering incredibly exciting ways for fans to participate in the worlds our characters inhabit.”
Chris Hughes and James Cooke-Priest, who recently created and toured Top Gear Live, will executive produce along with writer/director Rowland French.
“This is set to be the most spectacular live-automotive production in history,” said Cooke-Priest.
“The Fate of the Furious,” the newest chapter in the franchise, will hit theaters on April 14, of this year. The last seven films have grossed $3.9 billion at the worldwide box office — “Furious 7” was one of the fastest movies to hit $1 billion at the worldwide box office. The franchise has starred Dwayne Johnson, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson and the late Paul Walker.
