Just days after the news Justin Lin was exiting as director of the next Fast and Furious installment Fast X, sources tell Deadline that Louis Leterrier is the front-runner to step in to helm the Universal film.
Sources add that while Leterrier is the studio’s top choice, scheduling still has to be worked out with some of his other projects, so a deal has not closed yet.
When the shocking news broke that Lin would be leaving a week into production, studio sources were confident tha a replacement could be made and the pause in filming would brief, and clearly that was the case. Insiders add that Universal chief Donna Langley has had a great relationship with Leterrier over the years, and he quickly was put at the top of the list of directors to approach following Lin’s departure.
Universal had no comment.
Deadline first broke the news Wednesday that Lin was off as director, and though the split was it was amicable, sources say his exit was over creative differences. Second-unit footage on Fast X is wrapping up, and once a deal closes for Leterrier to replace Lin, the studio should still have no problem making the film’s May 19, 2023, release date.
Production is underway in London with Vin Diesel and the core Fast cast returning alongside franchise newcomers Jason Momoa and Brie Larson.
Lin and Dan Mazeau co-wrote the script; Lin will stay on as a producer along with Diesel, Neal Moritz, Jeff Kirschenbaum and Samantha Vincent.
Leterrier’s credits include Clash of the Titans as well as the heist thriller Now You See Me. He recently has been directing in TV as serves as director, executive producer and showrunner for Netflix’s Lupin. He also directed all episodes of the streamer’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.