Those who stayed after the end credits of Fast Five will not be surprised to learn that, despite her character's apparent demise earlier in the franchise, Michelle Rodriguez is now confirmed by Variety to reprise her role as Letty Ortiz in next year's Fast & Furious 6. The outlet also confirms that the Avatar star will be back on the big screen as Luz/Shé in Robert Rodriguez's Machete Kills.

Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson are confirmed to be returning for Fast & Furious 6 with many of the regulars expected to be back as well and Gina Carano said to be in talks. Details of the plot are currently few but Six, like Five, is expected to be a heist film and will shoot in Europe beginning in June.

Production on Machete Kills, meanwhile, is set to begin imminently in Texas with Danny Trejo's Machete teaming with the U.S. Government to take on a Mexican drug cartel and a James Bond-style villain who seeks world domination with a satellite weapon.

Fast & Furious 6 is scheduled for release on May 24, 2013 with the release date for Machete Kills still to be determined.

(Photo Credit: Daniel Tanner / WENN.com)