A representative for Universal Pictures recently confirmed that Vin Diesel's custom Dodge Charger that he drives in the soon-to-be-released film F9 cost the studio over $1 million to build.
- Vin Diesel is Drax's original role model
- Top 10 Hollywood actors make most money by Forbes
- Hollywood actors and their deepest fears and phobias
The source made the news public through Insider, where it was noted that the vehicle 'combines old and new technology' and that 'several hybrid versions' of the car were made for the action-adventure feature.
The highly-anticipated feature had its initial premiere in South Korea earlier this year, and it is set to be released in the United States later in June.
Revving up: A representative for Universal Pictures confirmed that Vin Diesel's Dodge Charger that he will drive in the highly-anticipated film, F9, cost the studio over $1 million to build
The media outlet also spoke to the franchise's vehicle supervisor, Dennis McCarthy, who spoke about the difficulties in providing audiences with an unfamiliar car that have arisen due to the longevity of the Fast & Furious series.
'Coming up with a fresh version of a Dom Charger gets trickier with every new installment because there isn't much that we haven't already done,' he expressed.
He went on to note that the car needed to stand out to F9's viewers and that his team tried several new approaches while coming up with the idea for the vehicle.
'Dom's F9 Charger had to be something that was over-the-top, iconic and different from what we've done in the past,' he remarked.
Using what worked: The series' vehicle supervisor, Dennis McCarthy spoke to Insider and noted that the design of the actor's car 'combines old and new technology'
New release: F9 had its initial premiere in South Korea earlier this year, and it is set to be released in the United states later this month
Vin Diesel's Dom Toretto returns with the team in F9 trailer
The vehicle supervisor also told the media outlet about the car's specifications and expressed that the final product incorporated both historical designs and modern upgrades.
'With its mega-horsepower Dodge Hellcat motor, unique Charger engine location, and combination of old and new technology, the mid-engine Charger satisfies all of these criteria,' he remarked.
McCarthy, who has worked on several installments in the series, went on to note that the new version of Toretto's Charger 'is now my all-time favorite Fast & Furious car.'
Development on F9 began shortly after the release of Furious 7, when it was announced that several other films in the franchise would be released in the near future.
Serious approval: McCarthy also spoke about the vehicle's specs and expressed that Diesel's new Charger was his 'all-time favorite Fast & Furious car'
Several of the series' main cast, including Jordana Brewster, Ludacris and Tyrese Gibson, are set to return for the upcoming flick.
Charlize Theron and Helen Mirren will reprise their roles as Cipher and Queenie, respectively.
John Cena was added to the feature's cast in April of 2019, and numerous other performers, such as Cardi B and Michael Rooker, signed on to appear in the movie in the following months.
New blood: John Cena signed on to appear in F9 in 2019 and will be seen along newcomers Michael Rooker and Cardi B
The film will follow Toretto's crew as they face off with his long-lost brother, Jakob, who is working with Cipher and holds a grudge against his sibling.
Physical production began in June of 2019 and took place in locations such as Edinburgh and Los Angeles before shooting moved to Thailand and Georgia.
Michelle Rodriguez, who will reprise her role as Letty Ortiz, confirmed that part of the film would take place in outer space.
Vin Diesel returns to 'Fast & Furious' in 'F9' Super Bowl ad
Plotline: The long-awaited film will follow Dominic Toretto's crew as they face off against his long-lost brother, Jakob, who is working with criminal mastermind Cipher
The film's release date was changed several times for several reasons, chief among them being the onset of the global pandemic.
F9 had its official premiere in South Korea on May 19th, and it is currently set to be released on June 25th in the United States.
The film was met with generally positive critical reception, with many reviewers pointing to the feature's opening scene as particularly impressive.
The Fast & Furious series is currently set to end after the release of two further installments, both of which will be helmed by director Justin Lin.
Coming to a close: The Fast & Furious series is set to conclude after the release of two further installments in the franchise