Looks like the gatekeepers of the "Fast and Furious" franchise are going to have to get rid of any planned soccer riot sequences for their next European-set installment, since bald action god Jason Statham is out of the running.
According to Twitch, the one-man army that is Statham has exited talks which began in October to put the pedal to the metal for Vin Diesel and company in Universal's biggest cash cow, which plans to rev-up back-to-back sequels. The star of this month's "Safe" either wasn't interested in rubbing heads with Diesel or, just perhaps, has a bigger payday waiting to roll out.
Supposedly this is not the only big time vehicle that wanted to piggyback off of Statham's ample testosterone, since he's been circling Michael Bay's "Transformers" fourquel. Rumor also had it that he might play Nicolas Cage (!) in the upcoming laugher "Action No. 1." The 44-year-old Brit is a veteran of the "Transporter," "Crank," and "Expendables" franchises, the latter of which will throw a part 2 grenade this summer.
For "Fast Five," the previous hit installment in the neverending series (muscle cars + hot babes = $$$), they added Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to their roster. Without Statham they're gonna need another hulking action star to one-up the previous entry, the supply of which is fairly low these days. If they really wanna bring the crazy they can always rope in a Mickey Rourke or a Nicolas Cage for some frenetic freeway frenzy.
