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Scott Eastwood joins cast of 8th 'Fast & Furious' film

Story highlights
  • Eastwood will join Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson and others
  • He said, "It's hard to put into words how excited I am"
  • Charlize Theron is also reportedly joining the cast

(CNN) The "Fast & Furious" franchise just added a hunk to the roster.

Scott Eastwood has been added to the cast of the eighth film, according to the franchise's official Twitter account.

"Kurt Russell's Mr. Nobody has a new protégé," the tweet announced, with a pic of Eastwood. "Welcome @ScottEastwood to the Fast family. 4.14.17. #F8."

No further info was offered about Eastwood's character. Russell's Mr. Nobody, a mysterious government operative, recruited our heroes to track down a kidnapped hacker in "Furious 7."

Eastwood, the son of legendary actor Clint Eastwood, said on Instagram that "It's hard to put into words how excited I am for the next Fast & Furious."

It's hard to put into words how excited I am for the next Fast & Furious. To me, the series is so much more than just a franchise. It's a legacy. These great actors who have been in it together for so long have become a family. I absolutely can't wait to join it. Now I can't say too much, but I get to play a new character who operates under Kurt Russell in the movie, which is incredible, because Kurt was a total childhood hero of mine growing up. Very much looking forward to learning a thing or two from such an original and cool guy. Paul was a close friend of mine. We surfed together, traveled together, and he was a huge role model and influencing figure in my life when I was younger. He still is. He was an older brother to me. For me to be able to add to the F&F story, Paul's story, and the FAST family is like a dream come true. Gary Gray and Neal Moritz - I can't wait to get started and dive in. Vin - thank you for the support and the insight. Paul - I am going to make you proud. #F8

"To me, the series is so much more than just a franchise," he said in the caption. "It's a legacy."

The franchise suffered a major loss in 2013 when Paul Walker and a friend were killed in a car crash in the middle of filming for "Furious 7." The studio used special effects and used Walker's two brothers as stand-ins to complete the film.

Paul Walker's daughter receives settlement in father's death

Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris and Jason Statham will return for "Fast 8," which will be directed by "Straight Outta Compton's" F. Gary Gray.

Deadline recently reported that actress Charlize Theron had also joined the cast of "Fast 8," which is scheduled to arrive in theaters April 14, 2017.

Eastwood has had roles in the Brad Pitt war film "Fury" and Taylor Swift's music video for "Wildest Dreams." He will next be seen in the comic book film "Suicide Squad."

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