On more than one occasion Hollywood icon Dame Helen Mirren has made it more than clear that she would be interested in joining Vin Diesel and the rest of the Furious 7 crew on the next film in the franchise, Fast 8, and apparently Riddick has finally taken notice. According to the latest gossip news updates, Vin is just as excited to have the Red 2 action star join the cast as she is to finally have chance to spend some real quality time with her celebrity crush. In related news, Universal Studios just unveiled their new Fast and Furious ride last week, and, just like their last movie together, Diesel dedicated the attraction to the late Paul Walker, who died is a tragic car crash late November 2013.
While they may seem like an unlikely onscreen match, Helen Mirren has no issue admitting to anyone who asks that she is absolutely enamored with Vin Diesel and hopes against hope to be cast in his next Fast and Furious feature.
During a discussion with Seth Meyers this past April she told the Late Night host that she pretty much fell in love with the Fast and Furious executive producer the very first time she laid eyes on him (via People):
"Well...I mean, I am a huge fan of Vin Diesel.
"It came from me watching him make a speech once at some ceremony, and he was so smart and so funny and so cool.
"And I just sort of fell a little bit in love with him right there and then."
The good news for Helen Mirren is not only has Vin Diesel heard of the English treasure, he told Access Hollywood that he would love nothing more than to have her onset when the start filming in New York City:
"I love Helen Mirren. Get your act together, Helen! I love you!
"Of course I would [want her cast in Fast 8]! Who wouldn't?
"It's Helen. Amazing...Tell her I said so."
As ecstatic as Vin may be to have Helen Mirren on board, Diesel didn't forget that without Paul Walker the franchise would not exist when he dedicated the new Fast themed ride at Universal in his best friend's honor at its recent unveiling (via Hollywood Reporter):
"I know when we were making it, it felt like we were creating something that I had never experienced. We employed all kinds of incredible technology.
"It feels like we're beyond having to prove that it's a worthy saga."
It's just too bad Helen Mirren didn't get in in time to make it into the ride with the rest of the Fast family.
