Fast and Furious 8: Charlize Theron will create complicated feelings for fans

Charlize Theron is set to play the villainous Cipher in Fast & Furious 8, a character who could wind up challenging the perceptions of the franchise’s fans.

“It’s like a siren kind of thing,” composer Brian Tyler, who has worked on four previous Fast & Furious films and will return for the latest entry, tells EW. “There’s no question the havoc and villainy she brings [but] you’re attracted to it. There’s something where you can kind of see yourself in this villain that makes it more disturbing and, at the same time, more interesting. It’s the sympathetic villains, in a way, who really get under your skin. In a much different way, but like how Anthony Hopkins did Hannibal Lecter, where you like him, but you’re like, ‘Wait, why am I doing that? I shouldn’t be rooting for this person.’ She has that ability to do that. She’s just a fantastic actor.”

Theron was officially cast in the role back in May, at which point star Vin Diesel said her character would make life difficult for the core set of heroes.

“Wait until you meet Cipher,” Diesel wrote on Facebook. “Of all her films you have never seen this character [Theron] has created… she has truly brought her A game to this saga and we are all grateful for it.”

Tyler, who wrote the score for Now You See Me 2 and worked on Marvel Cinematic Universe features Iron Man 3 and Avengers: Age of Ultron, says the new film is “a blast and a lot of fun,” and praises director F. Gary Gray for juggling the action, comedy, and drama beats.

“I think it will surprise people in a way,” Tyler says of sequel, which is shooting now. “In a way, it does remind me of when I work on the Marvel films. We have different characters who were allowed to become really distinct.”

Fast and Furious 8 is out April 14, 2017.