Monday, Jul 15, 2013
Things are picking up speed on the likelihood of Fast & Furious 7 being partly shot in Dubai, following the release of a casting call in the US which mentions the UAE.
As reported by tabloid! in May this year — just ahead of the release of Fast & Furious 6 — the film’s lead actor Vin Diesel got movie and car fans in the Emirates revved up when he revealed that the makers of the franchise were looking at the Middle East and Tokyo as potential shooting destinations for the next film in the car-based action series — sparking rumours that Dubai is on their radar.
Monday’s announcement, on an auditioning website from Los Angeles, Acting-Auditions.org, says, “casting calls will be going out in Los Angeles for starring, co-starring, and supporting roles... Shooting will also take place in Tokyo and Dubai. The extras will be cast near the locations where filming will take place. Principal photography commences September, 2013.”
The film is due to release summer 2014.
No comment was available on Monday morning from Jamal Al Sharif, chairman of the Dubai Film and TV Commission and managing director of Dubai Studio City, but in an interview in May, he didn’t rule out the possibility.
“I cannot reveal names of Hollywood films to be shot here. But there’s a group who is coming to scout for locations. When anybody thinks of the Middle East, Dubai and Abu Dhabi comes up as a natural platform,” said Al Sharif, whose commission must give permission for films to be shot in Dubai, and arranged, among other things, Tom Cruise’s Burj Khalifa stunts for Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol.
“We will soon be making three major announcements regarding Hollywood film shoots in the UAE. It’s going to be big,” added Al Sharif at the time.
Adam Ridgway, the managing director of Dubai-based talent and casting agency dotcasting, told tabloid! talks were on with entities involved with the production of Fast & Furious 7, but added he could not confirm anything.
Ridgway’s company was responsible for finding the extras for Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.
“There is speculation as to how much talent is available in the UAE and Middle East. [But] there is an abundance of talent on our books. Many of those don’t work full time in the industry as it isn’t as buoyant as other parts of the world, but that is slowly changing - especially with our contacts in the industry,” he said.
The seventh installment in the $2 billion-plus Fast & Furious franchise will be directed by Malaysian-born Australian filmmaker James Wan, with Diesel returning as Dominic Torretto. The sixth film also introduced a new nemesis for Diesel’s character, to be played by British action star Jason Statham. Stars returning include Paul Walker, Michelle Rodrigue and Dwayne Johnson. The film, which chronologically takes place after Tokyo Drift, will be the beginning of a new trilogy— two additional films after F&F 7 are in the pipeline.
Stay tuned for details as they emerge.
(With inputs by David Tusing, Deputy tabloid! Editor)
By Natalie Long, tabloid! Editor
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
