Charlize Theron to Play Villain in Furious 8

Charlize Theron has time and again proven her ability to play formidable characters, but in last year's Mad Max: Fury Road, she proved that she was capable of playing a character that's tougher than everyone around her. That's what makes this week's news that Theron has signed on to play the villain in the upcoming Fast and Furious 8 so exciting.

The producers of the film didn't offer any specifics about Theron's character beyond saying that she will be the franchise's "greatest adversary ever." That means she'll be harder to deal with than Jason Statham, who played the villain in Furious 7, the last installment in the franchise, and that's saying something.

Fast and Furious 8 is being directed by F. Gary Gray, and it's slated for an April 2017 release. It will star franchise regulars Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Dwayne Johnson and Tyrese Gibson. The film will be the first installment of the franchise that will not feature Paul Walker, who was killed in a car crash before he could complete his role in Furious 7; Walker was included in that film, however, using scenes he'd already shot, CGI effects and the help of his brothers, Cody and Caleb.