After finding major success directing four Fast and Furious movies, Justin Lin has decided to put directing the franchise in park. THR reports that the director has informed studio execs that he will no longer be helming the franchise that has spanned six installments – soon to be seven.

Lin’s past Fast and Furious films has grossed some pretty spectacular numbers. Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift grossed $158 million worldwide, while Fast and Furious grossed over $350 million. Fast Five went on to grossed $626 million. So Fast and Furious 6 looks like it is on track to gross just as much if not more than it’s predecessor.

But it wasn’t differences between the studio and Lin that made him leave the franchise. It has to do more with timing. Universal is fast tracking Fast and Furious 7 for a summer 2014 release, and Lin feels that he is unable to meet that deadline. According to the trade, he feels that making a rushed project to meet the scheduled release date would not be his best work.

Lin is reportedly attached to numerous projects and it’s not known what he will do next. Lin’s successor is also unknown at the moment, but reports are that a director will be announced between now and next week.

Fast and Furious 6 is due out in theaters on May 24.

So who do you think should direct the seventh installment of the Fast and Furious franchise?

[Source: THR]