'Furious 8' Could Be First Hollywood Blockbuster Shot In Cuba Since Embargo
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Several positives have come from the improved relations between the United States and Cuba over the past year.
With trade relations and foreign policy growing and improving, another area could soon be benefiting from these changes.
That area is the film industry.
F. Gary Gray, who is directing the next installment in the Fast and the Furious franchise, has scouted locations for the film in Cuba.
He has also acquired the necessary documents and permits needed in order to shoot the film in Cuba, according to Heroic Hollywood.
If Furious 8 does indeed take place in Cuba, it will be the first major movie to be filmed on the island since the end of the embargo, which had been in effect since 1962.
Universal Pictures has confirmed all this in a released statement that was quoted by The Hollywood Reporter.
"Universal Pictures is currently in the process seeking approval from the United States and Cuban governments to explore shooting a portion of the next installment of the Fast & Furious series in Cuba."
Treasury paperwork for permits in Cuba have yet to be finalized.
Furious 8 would not be the first Hollywood production to shoot in Cuba since the embargo ended though.
An independent film titled Papa was shot in Cuba in 2014, Showtime series House of Lies has plans to shoot in Havana and late-night talk show host Conan O'Brien aired a special that he shot during a four-day trip to Cuba last March.
It was the first time an American late-night talk show host had shot an episode in Cuba since the beginning of the embargo.
Regarding Furious 8, nothing has been confirmed about where the film will shoot and other locations have been scouted, including Iceland and Russia.
The film is currently schedule for release on April 14, 2017.
