Michelle Rodriguez threatens to leave ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise

With Universal’s “The Fate of the Furious” getting its digital release today, original franchise star Michelle Rodriguez took to Instagram to tout it — sorta. What it ended up being was a gentle but notable nudge seen by her 3.8 million followers to Universal and the series’ producers to “show some love to the women of the franchise on the next one. Or I just might have to say goodbye to a loved franchise.”

Rodriguez has always kept up with the boys in “Fast and the Furious” series, but there’s a lot of boys to keep up with. A story that originally centered on Vin Diesel and the late Paul Walker now includes Dwayne Johnson, Tyrese Gibson, Jason Statham, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges and Kurt Russell. The latest pic did introduce Charlize Theron and Helen Mirren.

“The Fate of the Furious” was the eighth film in the testosterone-fueled series that began in 2001. It made $1.24 billion at the global box office. Two more movies are planned for 2019 and 2021 to extend the series to 10.

Rodriguez presumably would have a deal in place for the final chapters.