Bigger Role For Russell In Fast 8? Plus Where Is ‘Leon’?

Kurt Russell showed up in this year’s Furious 7, for a ‘Mr. Church’ type role.  It wasn’t too big, more of an extended cameo (kind of like half the cast of that movie).

According to several mainstream sources, as well as El Mayimbe, the character might be a large fixture of ‘Fast & Furious 8’.  The movie will also have a New York setting supposedly, but keep in mind that Furious 7 was pegged to have a ‘Los Angeles’ setting.  Also set for a return is Eva Mendes as Agent Monica Fuentes, who has not appeared since the second movie, unless you count a cameo in the fifth.

This is a lot of returns, the series seems to rely on this as part of its drawing power at the box office.  But I note one exception.  The character of Leon, played by Johnny Strong.  This article of ours has been absolutely bombarded over the past week.  The question being, with every historical ‘Furious’ cast member and his dog returning, where is Johnny Strong/Leon?  I really don’t know, but the guy is feeding 1/4 of our traffic for the past week.  He must be extremely popular.

Strong said he wasn’t returning.  He thanks everyone… but Vin Diesel.  Were I a betting man, I’d say a certain ego is involved and it’s not Johnny Strong’s.