Sequels and Reboots
Universal Pictures Puts the Brakes on Fast & Furious Finale After $1.1 Billion Spend
After two decades of high-octane chases and globe-trotting heists, the Fast & Furious saga is hitting a financial speed bump. According to recent reports, Universal Pictures has signaled it will only greenlight the highly anticipated finale to the Fast & Furious franchise if its production costs drop to $200 million — a dramatic cut from previous installments.
The studio’s caution follows revelations that Universal spent a staggering $1.1 billion on the last three Fast & Furious films, averaging roughly $367 million each. While the franchise has grossed an eye-popping $7.3 billion worldwide since its 2001 debut, the latest entry, Fast X, earned just $704.9 million — only the sixth-highest gross in the series. After theater splits, Universal’s share reportedly dipped below production costs, suggesting the film may have lost $12.3 million at the box office before factoring in marketing and home entertainment revenue.
Budget overruns on Fast X were particularly eye-opening. Production filings revealed a $436.6 million price tag, later offset by a $71.8 million U.K. tax credit. While filming at Leavesden Studios allowed Universal to leverage a 25.5% reimbursement on qualifying costs, the series’ hallmark globe-spanning locations — including Rome, Lisbon, and Portugal — still pushed expenditures skyward.
Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto in Fast & Furious
For the finale, reportedly titled Fast X: Part 2, Universal appears determined to rein in spending. Insiders told The Wall Street Journal that the latest script draft requires a $250 million budget, which the studio wants to slash by 20%. Cost-cutting measures could include reducing the number of cast appearances, paring back exotic filming locations, and focusing more on practical effects than CGI-heavy stunts.
Vin Diesel, the face of the franchise, seemed undeterred during a summer appearance at FuelFest, promising fans a return to Los Angeles street-racing roots and even teasing a reunion between Dominic Toretto and his late partner Brian O’Conner — played by Paul Walker. Yet behind the scenes, the film lacks an approved script, a confirmed release date, or cast contracts.
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The stakes are high. Furious 7 remains the franchise’s box office peak, earning $1.5 billion worldwide. If the finale can replicate even a fraction of that success under a leaner budget, Universal could close out its most profitable franchise on a high note. But unless the studio and filmmakers align on cost control, the “final ride” could stall before it leaves the garage.
With April 2027 floated as a possible release date, fans may need to buckle up for a longer wait — and a potentially leaner, meaner farewell to one of cinema’s biggest blockbuster brands.
