Louis Leterrier says that Fast X will bring back an iconic Fast & Furious element. The popular action franchise began in 2001, focusing largely on the development of Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) while exploring a world of crime and street racing. Premiering May 19, Fast X will serve as the series’ penultimate entry, tracking its main character as he looks to protect his loved ones from Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa). In addition to Diesel and Momoa, the film stars Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Jordana Brewster, John Cena, Charlize Theron, and Brie Larson.
Though Fast & Furious has changed over the years, Leterrier reveals that street racing will be reintegrated in the upcoming installment. During an interview with Total Film (via CBR), the director shares that being a fan of the movies, he wanted to bring that element back to the franchise. Read Leterrier's comments regarding the races in Fast X below:
"As a fan, there’s some stuff that I really wanted back from the franchise – the street races [were one]. That’s the fun of it all: when you’re the head of a movie [series] that you’ve admired and have been a fan of for so many years, you get to bring your fantasies to life!"
How Fast & Furious Moved Away From Street Racing
When the Fast & Furious franchise began, it followed the heists of Dom and his crew, as well as Brian O'Conner's (Paul Walker) undercover investigations. The first film, The Fast and the Furious, introduced the underground street racing scene, which remained an important part of the series throughout the next few installments, even as different characters and settings emerged. The movies changed with Fast Five though, focusing more on Dom's family and highlighting physical action and stunt work.
By the time F9 was released, the Fast & Furious films had been exploring stories related to spies, world-ending stakes, and family. The most recent movie followed Dom's team as they faced off against Jakob (Cena) and Otto (Thue Ersted Ramussen), along with Cipher (Theron), who returned following The Fate of the Furious. F9 featured a lot of action, including high speed chases and a brother versus brother battle, and had the memorable moment of Tej (Ludacris) and Roman's (Gibson) car going into space.
While the move away from street racing might have broadened the franchise's appeal, longtime fans of Fast & Furious will likely be excited that Leterrier is bringing that element back. It also makes sense to return to those types of sequences, as the films are expected to end with one more installment. It will be interesting to see how big the race scenes are in Fast X and what else Leterrier decides to incorporate from previous entries.
Source: Total Film (via CBR)
