Djimon Hounsou

Djimon Hounsou

Djimon Hounsou has been cast in 'Fast & Furious 7'.

The 'Blood Diamond' actor has joined the ever-expanding cast of the street-racing movie, which will also welcome Jason Statham, Kurt Russell and female mixed martial arts fighter Ronda Rousey to the veteran Hollywood franchise.

It's not yet known what role the actor will play, but the film - which is a follow-up to this summer's hit 'Fast & Furious 6' - will see the cast return to Los Angeles after globe-trotting across the world in the past few films.

Statham, who was introduced at the end of the sixth film, will play the main villain in the new movie.

Franchise stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson are all back for the seventh movie, which will see a new director, James Wan, take the reins.

'The Conjuring' filmmaker recently revealed he hopes to bring "suspense" and other devices of the horror genre to the franchise.

He said: "One of the things I would love to bring to it, having spent a lot of time in the horror/thriller/suspense genre is ... I love tension, I love suspense and hopefully I can bring that. That would be my style that I would love to bring to the 'Fast' franchise."

'Fast & Furious 7' will zoom into cinemas in July 2014.