"Furious 7" has brought in $1.35 billion at the worldwide box office so far. In just a few weeks, it has become the fourth highest grossing film of all time. It has earned more money than any film in "The Dark Knight" trilogy or "The Lord of the Rings."
With that kind of success, director James Wan can literally do almost any film he wants after completing the sequel to his successful 2013 supernatural thriller "The Conjuring." He'll have his choice of several tempting projects.
Warner Bros. has reportedly zeroed in on Wan to helm their planned 2018 film "Aquaman" with star Jason Momoa. DC may not have as much cache as Marvel in the shared cinematic universe business, but high profile superhero/franchise flicks are the gatekeepers of international appeal. If Wan wants to prove that the success of "Furious 7" isn't a fluke, then taking on this challenging project would be a start.
Sony is also rumored to be eyeing Wan to direct its live action "Robotech" movie. The Hollywood Reporter claims that Wan has already received an offer from the studio and is in "early talks" for the potential sci-fi tentpole.
On top of all that, Universal is trying to persuade Wan to return for "Fast & Furious 8." That's a lot of high-profile opportunities with only enough time to do one.
"Aquaman" offers Wan the unique chance to helm a mythical superhero adventure that takes place largely in the ocean. That would break new ground in the genre while also bringing to life a character that has its fair share of detractors.
"Robotech" is based on the 1980s animated TV series and takes place in a dystopian future in which humanity employs giant robots to battle alien invaders. Sony hopes to start a franchise that can rival "Pacific Rim" with this first film. Wan would likely get more creative freedom on this project though "Aquaman" may be higher profile.
"Fast & Furious 8" is probably the safest choice, as it is almost guaranteed to make money given the carloads full of cash that "Furious 7" is dropping off at Universal HQ right now.
Which project do you think Wan should go with?
