Fast 8 enlists Scott Eastwood as Kurt Russell's protege

Scott Eastwood, the man best known for being Clint Eastwood's model-turned-actor son, will play Kurt Russell's protege in Fast 8.

Universal Pictures tweeted the announcement earlier today, welcoming the actor to the Fast and Furious family. Russell's Mr. Nobody character was introduced during the seventh installment as a government agent tasked with finding Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew of street racing miscreants in an attempt to bring down an international terrorist. While unsure of the sketchy character at first, Toretto eventually came to respect and work with Mr. Nobody, taking down Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) in the process.

Prior to Fast 8, Eastwood starred in the Nicholas Sparks adaptation, The Longest Ride. He was also rumored to be up for the role of a young Han Solo in the standalone film being directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, but didn't make the shortlist of potential actors. The actor will have a role in Warner Bros.' upcoming Suicide Squad, though.

Fast 8 marks the franchise's return to Japan, five movies after Justin Lin's The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift. In the third movie, Han (Sung Kang) was killed by Deckard Shaw, and this installment will see the team fighting for revenge over the death of their friend.

Fast 8, directed by Straight Outta Compton's F. Gary Gray, hits theaters April 14, 2017.