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Incredible Hulk director steps up for Fast & Furious 10 as more details arise on Justin Lin’s reason for leaving

May 3rd, 2022 by Marc Comments

We reported a few days back that director Justin Lin has walked from directing Fast X, the tenth movie in the Fast & Furious franchise of which Lin has directed numerous entries and is credited by many – myself included – with being responsible for the series’ leap to Avengers-level success (here) and the news was surprising and disappointing (I’m a big fan of the series).

It left us wondering two things – why is he leaving and who will replace him. And we likely have answers to both those questions now.

On his reason for leaving, it seems shifting scripts and a difficult leading man were the main reasons.

According to THR, Lin was frustrated at the fact that there was still no finished script and what there was, kept shifting: The constantly moving target proved too much for seasoned Lin, who on April 23 had a “major disagreement” with [star Vin] Diesel. The four-person meeting had begun with Diesel having new notes. It ended with a slammed door. “Justin finally had enough and said, ‘This movie is not worth my mental health,’” says one source. Both Lin and Diesel declined comment for this story.

On top of this, a producer attached to the movie has laid the blame squarely at Diesel’s feet: “I’ve never seen anything like it. Lin’s giving up $10 or $20 million [as director]. Diesel shows up late to the set. He doesn’t know his lines. And he shows up out of shape.” 

Ouch.

On the question of who will direct, many were hoping that legendary actioner helmer Micheal Bay might be game but alas, it wasn’t to be.

Louis Leterrier, director of The Incredible Hulk and the first two Transporter movies, has stepped up to take the massive franchise into its massive two-part final installment, getting the gig ahead of several possible choices.

Lin is still attached as a producer and co-wrote the movie and, at the moment, it’s not known if Leterrier is to direct both parts of the final chapter.

Any thoughts on this choice for the last outing of the family? Let me know…

Marc is a self-confessed nerd. Ever since seeing Star Wars for the first time around 1979 he’s been an unapologetic fan of the Wars and still believes, with Clone Wars and now Underworld, we are yet to see the best Star Wars. He’s a dad of two who now doesn’t have the time (or money) to collect the amount of toys, comics, movies and books he once did, much to the relief of his long-suffering wife. In the real world he’s a graphic designer. He started Following the Nerd because he was tired of searching a million sites every day for all the best news that he loves and decided to create one place where you can go to get the whole lot. Secretly he longs to be sitting in the cockpit of his YT-1300 Corellian Transport ship with his co-pilot Chewie, roaming the universe, waiting for his next big adventure, but feels just at home watching cartoons with his kids….