Fast & Furious 8 plans Cuba location filming

Action behemoth Fast & Furious 8 is negotiating to film scenes in Cuba, which could deliver a huge profile boost for the country.

By Nick Goundry 7 Jan 2016

Fast & Furious 8 plans Cuba location filming

Action behemoth Fast & Furious 8 is negotiating to film scenes in Cuba, which could deliver a huge profile boost for the country.

Producers have already scouted locations on the island, Variety reports, as the franchise continues to build on its reputation for exotic international backdrops.

Furious 7 was filmed partly in Abu Dhabi and the city became a major element of the movie’s marketing. The film made $1.5bn worldwide and Universal Pictures has announced plans for at least three more movies in the franchise.

“Universal Pictures is currently in the process of seeking approval from the United States and Cuban governments to explore shooting a portion of the next instalment of the Fast & Furious series in Cuba,” a spokeswoman for the studio told Variety.

“Cuba is a land that many know about, but few have seen,” added John Kavulich, senior policy adviser to the US-Cuba Trade and Economic Council. “These productions are hoping to capitalise on the increased interest in Cuba.”

Cuba's appeal as a filming location has been steadily increasing since a thaw in US relations with the country’s communist government and the reopening of the American embassy in Havana last summer. In December a deal was announced to resume regular commercial flights between the two countries.

Feature film Papa recently became the first movie with an American cast and crew to shoot in Cuba since 1960.

Don Cheadle’s TV comedy House of Lies is set to become the first scripted US series to film an episode in Havana since diplomatic ties were re-established.

For more on filming in Cuba see our production guide.

Image: Universal Pictures

Furious 7 was filmed partly in Abu Dhabi and the city became a major element of the movie’s marketing. The film made $1.5bn worldwide and Universal Pictures has announced plans for at least three more movies in the franchise.

“Universal Pictures is currently in the process of seeking approval from the United States and Cuban governments to explore shooting a portion of the next instalment of the Fast & Furious series in Cuba,” a spokeswoman for the studio told Variety.

“Cuba is a land that many know about, but few have seen,” added John Kavulich, senior policy adviser to the US-Cuba Trade and Economic Council. “These productions are hoping to capitalise on the increased interest in Cuba.”

Cuba's appeal as a filming location has been steadily increasing since a thaw in US relations with the country’s communist government and the reopening of the American embassy in Havana last summer. In December a deal was announced to resume regular commercial flights between the two countries.

Feature film Papa recently became the first movie with an American cast and crew to shoot in Cuba since 1960.

Don Cheadle’s TV comedy House of Lies is set to become the first scripted US series to film an episode in Havana since diplomatic ties were re-established.

For more on filming in Cuba see our production guide.

Image: Universal Pictures

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