Scott Eastwood 'welcomed' to Fast and Furious family

Scott Eastwood says being the new guy on set during filming of The Fate of the Furious meant being in the firing line when it came to pranks.

The star, who plays a rookie agent in the movie, says he thinks the good-natured initiation he experienced all added to the film's tone.

"There was a healthy amount of hazing. That was fun, and it comes off in the film and I think it adds humour, it was nice," Eastwood told Sky News.

The actor, who had roles in Suicide Squad and Snowden last year, says he was cautious when first considering the part, as he had been close to Paul Walker - one of the franchise's original stars, who was killed in a crash in 2013.

"The role came up and I remember my agent telling me, and at first I was a little hesitant because I knew Paul, I was friends with him," he said. "The more I thought about it I said, 'well that would be incredible to be part of something he was part of'.

"Then I sort of lobbied for it and said I'd love to be a part of it, so I auditioned and they had me."

Eastwood, son of veteran actor and director Clint Eastwood, says the cast, some of whom have been involved in the Fast and the Furious films since the first instalment in 2001, welcomed him to their "family".

"It was really nice. They really are a family on screen and off. To join that and to have them let me in with open arms spoke volumes about who all these people were as human beings, really," he said.

"We all hung out, Tyrese [Gibson] had parties at his house, we had barbecues. We were in Atlanta shooting it, and Ludacris is from Atlanta so it's his neck of the woods so he would take us out and show us around."

Despite having such a famous father, Eastwood has previously talked about not being helped in to the film industry by his dad, and says he and his father don't necessarily discuss the films that he stars in.

"We don't really intellectualise about film that much. I say I got this great role in this film, I'm going to go and do it, and he says 'cool, go knock 'em dead'."

But the 31-year-old admits that when he has been around his dad at work, it has been a special experience.

"I've worked with my father many times, on about five or six different movies, and then I've been on sets with him where I haven't been working, I've been there just to learn and just to shadow him. It's great every time, it's incredible," Eastwood said.

"It's a masterclass of directing and seeing how he works with actors and seeing how he crafts a story."

The last Fast And Furious film, Furious 7, became one of the highest-grossing films of all time.

Eastwood says he thinks it is because the subject matter is so relatable.

"The fans are die-hard. All the films are about family and I think that there's a certain amount that really resonates with the audience. Maybe that's a theme that people like, and the characters are so rich."

When asked whether he'll be back for the ninth edition in the series, the actor is keen, but coy.

"If they'll have me I'd love to part of it. There have been some conversations."

The Fate of the Furious is out in cinemas on Wednesday.