'Fast & Furious 8' Cast News:Check Out Vin Diesel! Actor Rocks New Dad Bod [See Pics]

Many are excited with the upcoming franchise of the popular street racing film "Fast and Furious." While "Fast and Furious 8" is making a slow progress, its lead actor and producer Vin Diesel seems to be losing track on keeping himself in his best shape.

According to Hollywood Life, Diesel was spotted shirtless in Miami on Oct. 6. The "Fast and Furious 8" star was taking a smoke break on his balcony, wearing nothing but shorts. His new body lacks the muscular arms and abs but it features the hottest trend of the season—the dad bod. See his photo here.

There were reports body shaming the actor with headlines "The Fat and the Furious" alongside with Diesel's photos, Movie Pilot has learned.

However, not everyone agrees that Diesel's shape is something he needs to be ashamed of. The actor is already 48 years old with three children and one of whom is just 6 months old. Thus, missing the gym and taking a break from dumbbell would be reasonable in exchange for a well-earned break with his family.

The report suggests that with the muscle memory and mass the father-of-three accumulated over the years, it will not be difficult for him to return to his best shape for any future roles

Meanwhile, there are  new reports claiming that "Fast and Furious 8" has finally found its director. According to The Hollywood Reporter, after an intense research and following the success of "Straight  Outta Compton," Universal has settled on F. Gray Gray.

Sources revealed that Gray is ready to initiate negotiation for a deal. Gray was chosen over Louis Leterrier, Adam Wingard and William Eubank.

According to the report, the search for "Fast and Furious 8" director was necessary after "Furious 7" director James Wan declined to return in the next  franchise. The search  for the next director went  public  and it made headlines all the more when Diesel turned to Facebook and teases fans that he will be taking the director's chair or Rob Cohen who directed the original movie will  do.

In an earlier report from Parent Herald, Diesel expressed his interest to take Cohen back for "Fast 8" because Paul Walker wants him to helm one more film.

"There has always been the desire by Paul [Walker] to have Rob [Cohen] direct one more, this is what fueled my campaign," Diesel wrote on a Facebook post. "I believe that he can and would reset the franchise nicely, returning to what was the core of the film in the beginning... racing."

Well, it seems that Gray got the director's chair already. After the meeting, Diesel has reportedly  posted a photo of himself with a smiling Gray on his Facebook account. Moreover, the duo was posed in front of several  "Fast and Furious" images.

"Fast and Furious 8" will be released on April 14, 2017.