'Fast 8' release date news: Shooting officially to begin in Cuba

The much-anticipated new entry to the "Fast and Furious" film franchise is all geared up for its arrival next year. Recent reports suggest that the filming of the upcoming action adventure movie called as "Fast 8" has officially commenced in Cuba.

Universal Studio, the popular company behind the successful "Fast and Furious" series, has prepped up the production in the country in order to begin shooting the first few scenes in the movie. The "Fast 8" director, F. Gary Grey officially revealed the start of filming in a video posted in the "Fast and Furious" Facebook account. In the video, the director was met by a group of women from Cuba's locality who greeted him and his team in harmony, "Fast & Furious, welcome to Cuba!" Also, the news website Yibada reported earlier that the production team of "Fast 8" has long been considering the Caribbean island country as the center of filming.

Since an embargo was implemented in Cuba during the '60s, Hollywood films were not able to shoot some scenes in the country for a very long time. However, after following the proper process of asking permission to film between the United States and the government of Cuba, "Fast 8" is now the first Hollywood movie to shoot on the island, The Hollywood Reporter reported. Aside from Cuba, there will also be other non-US locations considered for shooting, which include Russia and Iceland. New York was also eyed as a location for the movie.

"Fast 8" will feature the cast regulars Dwayne Johnson, Vin Diesel, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Kurt Russell and Tyrese Gibson. Just recently, Charlize Theron was signed up for a villain role in the movie, and now the "Thor: Ragnarok" British actor Tom Hiddleston is rumored to have a role in the film, according to the Rolling Stone. In the report, the 35-year-old actor revealed that he especially liked "Fast 8's" predecessor, "Furious 7."