Actor Vin Diesel has been portraying the role of Dominic Toretto for nearly two decades in the Fast & Furious franchise, a milestone considering he wasn't even the studios' top choice. The franchise, recently retitled as The Fast Saga, is gearing up to release its ninth installment, F9, later this year which will feature Diesel once again reprising the part of Dom for another adrenaline-pumping chapter. Here's who declined the role of Dom twenty years ago and why Diesel was the man for role.
Dom remains as one of the key protagonists in The Fast Saga, having first appeared in the franchise's debut film, 2001's The Fast and the Furious. Dom was a mechanic and ex-convict who had heavy involvement in the local street racing community, which is how he met Brian O'Connor (Paul Walker). After appearing in a cameo for The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Dom and Brian were brought back into focus along with Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster) and Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez) in 2009's Fast & Furious. The core crew acquired more members as time went on and the franchise continues but the Fast & Furious group traded street racing for tackling crime lords, government agencies, and global terrorists.
Prior to becoming the heart and soul of the Fast & Furious franchise, Diesel's only acting credits were self-made projects and parts in Saving Private Ryan, The Iron Giant, Boiler Room, and Pitch Black. Even though Diesel proved to be capable of leading the franchise, Universal Pictures had their eyes set on a more established actor for the role of Dom. In fact, they wanted Timothy Olyphant so bad that they would immediately greenlight the movie written by Gary Scott Thompson if they acquired the actor. Olyphant had just worked on Gone in 60 Seconds, another car film, prior to the development of The Fast and the Furious so he declined the offer. Those involved, however, would say everything worked out for the best because it gave Diesel the opportunity for a role he was born to play.
How Vin Diesel Ended Up Getting Cast As Dom In The Fast Saga
Producer Neal Moritz approached the studio and suggested Diesel for the role of Dom. It took some convincing for the studio as well as the actor but everyone involved eventually agreed. Diesel might not have been a well-known actor when The Fast Saga launched but he had the power to portray a rugged character to give off the effect of street credibility. It also didn't hurt that his name was perfect to put on a poster for a movie about fast cars and street racing.
It's very likely that The Fast Saga would have never been made if it wasn't for Diesel's casting. Even though there were a ton of filmmakers involved throughout the Fast & Furious movies, Diesel has been one of the most influential driving forces behind the series. When Paul Walker passed away unexpectedly in 2013, Diesel took the full weight of the films on his shoulders by lifting up his co-stars and honoring their late friend's legacy on and off the screen. It's no surprise that Diesel has served as a producer on the films since the fourth installment. Dom Toretto is big on the importance of family, and Diesel treats the cast, crew, and fans the same way.
