Former 'Fast & Furious' helmer Justin Lin is reportedly set to claim back the directorial baton for the upcoming eighth installment of the car racing action franchise. Slated for a 2017 release, "Fast & Furious 8" is rumored to feature Dame Helen Mirren as the movie's newest antagonist.

The next installment of the 'Furious' franchise is speculated to have Justin Lin back on the director's chair. This rumor has started to spark online when the film series' lead actor and producer Vin Diesel posted an Instagram photo of him and the 43-year-old filmmaker. Now, many predict that Diesel may have hired the director once again to helm "Furious 8", replacing James Wan who had the directorial duties in the franchise's latest movie.

Lin is noted to have directed four "Furious" installments, including 2006's "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift", 2009's "Fast & Furious", 2011's "Fast Five", and 2013's "Fast & Furious 6". Apart from helming these movies, he is also known for his works in directing episodes in TV shows like the former NBC sitcom "Community", CBS drama series "Scorpion", and HBO crime flick "True Detective".

Apart from the New York setting, no more details regarding the plot of the upcoming sequel is revealed. However, rumor has it that Helen Mirren may appear in the next movie. Christian Today notes that the 69-year-old English actress has earlier expressed her interest in starring one of the franchise's films. Diesel even responded positively to her statement, saying he would definitely welcome her in a new "Furious" movie. Now that a new one is coming up, the outlet predicts that she might board the project as the film's antagonist.

"Fast & Furious 8" is set to hit the big screen on April 17, 2017.

What do you think 'Furious' fans? Which director do you want to helm the franchise's next installment? Will Helen Mirren make a good antagonist? Leave your comments below.