Michelle Rodriguez is still mourning the loss of Fast & Furious co-star Paul Walker. It can be heard in her voice, seen in her eyes, and demonstrated in her words, but the star of such popular film franchises as Resident Evil and Fast & Furious is now beginning to talk of coping with Walker’s death and moving on with life. She says she finds a connection to Paul in continuing his legacy with Fast & Furious 8 and carrying on with the late actor’s most popular film franchise.

“We need a good reason to move on after Paul,” she explained. “And being that this is a global franchise now, it’s not just the American baby, it’s important that we consider moving on and take it seriously.”

For Ms. Rodriguez and her Furious co-stars, it isn’t just about making another film and creating a bigger blockbuster. There has to be more to it, for Walker’s memory, the actress reveals, according to E! News.

“But for us as a cast, I think we need a reason and it needs to have heart, so hopefully we’ll find it, you know? And somebody who’s passionate about directing it—I think that’s the most important thing is finding a good director.”

Michelle reveals that plans for a Furious 8 are already underway with a tentative schedule to begin filming. So, when do the cameras start rolling on F8 (or Fate) as Vin Diesel has started calling it?

“Next summer!” Rodriguez said with excitement. “Yeah, we’re trying to round up the troops.”

Michelle confesses to having an additional reason to feeling so psyched about the eighth installment of the Fast & Furious franchise, reports Design & Trend. The current pitch has Furious 8 taking place in New York City, which would bring Ms. Rodriguez back home for the first time since Girl Fight (2000).

“We were looking at New York, and I think the studio was open to that so keep fingers crossed! It’ll be my first movie at home since Girl Fight!”

Just listening to Michelle list off the reasons for shooting Furious 8 in N.Y.C. betrays her passion for going back home and it seems fitting that she should revisit the past, after losing Paul Walker so tragically.

“New York’s just like a melting pot. There is so much to discover there. Motor cycle cruise, everything from the Hell’s Angels home, you’ve got a lot that you can play with in New York.”

Although still in pre-production, Fast & Furious 8, starring Michelle Rodriguez and Vin Diesel, is set for an April 14, 2017 theatrical release.

The upcoming installment in the “Fast & Furious” franchise will begin filming next summer, and the movie will be a tribute to the late Paul Walker, who was part of the first seven movies.

Actress Michelle Rodriguez, who plays Letty Ortiz in the blockbuster franchise, recently spoke about the upcoming instalment at the Harper’s Bazaar Icon Party in New York City, saying the eighth movie is a tribute to Walker.

Walker passed away in November 2013 in a car accident, and “Furious 7” featured a touching send-off to the late actor at the end of the movie. Although Walker won’t be a part of “Fast & Furious 8”, there are chances that he will still be mentioned in the movie.

Rodriguez revealed that the eighth film will primarily be about street racing as Walker had expressed a desire for the film to remain true to its core theme — racing.

“[Paul] wanted to bring it back down to the core, which is the racing,” Rodriguez told People. “He was always complaining about the special effects and the blue screens.”

She also added that Walker wasn’t a fan of “exaggerated explosions and crazy plot lines,” and the production house will try to stay “true to Paul’s wishes.”

Although the film is currently in pre-production, actor Vin Diesel also spoke about the movie during the MTV Movie Awards in April, saying Walker always knew there would be a “Fast & Furious 8.”

Nicknaming the movie as “F8” aka “fate”, Diesel said: “Paul used to say that 8 was guaranteed and, in some ways, when your brother guarantees something, you have to make sure it comes to pass. So, if fate has it — fate, F8 — then you’ll get it. Furious 7 was for Paul; 8 is from Paul.”

On 12 September, Diesel paid a tribute to Walker on his birth anniversary, calling him one of the greatest human beings he has known.

“Happy Birthday to one of the greatest human beings I have ever known… one that I have been lucky to call a brother…Happy Birthday Paul… we miss you,” Diesel wrote.

“Fast and Furious 8” is set for an April 2017 release, and it will feature Dwyane Johnson, Jason Statham besides Rodriguez and Diesel. The rest of the cast is yet to be confirmed.

Rumours are rife that Eva Mendes will reprise her role as agent Monica Fuentes in “Fast and Furious 8”. Monica was a lead character in “2 Fast 2 Furious,” and according to rumours she will team up with Johnson’s Hobbs to take on a new villain in New York.