Fast X actor Sung Kang explains why a key character from F9 did not appear in the latest installment of the Fast & Furious franchise. F9 not only saw the return of Kang's Han Lue to the franchise after he was presumed dead in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, but introduced audiences to Elle (Anna Sawai), who went into hiding with Han after she lost her parents. At the movie's end, she joins Dom Toretto's (Vin Diesel) crew, but her fate in Fast X remains unknown.
In an interview with Insider, Kang explains why Elle is not in Fast X. Explaining that they had shot a scene that revealed her whereabouts did not make the final cut of the film, Kang believes that audiences have not seen the last of her, and there will be a reunion of sorts between Han, Elle, and, most importantly for the character, Gisele Yashar (Gal Gadot). Check out what he said on the matter below:
Yes. Actually, there was a scene shot kind of hinting where she was, but it didn't make the cut. Vin had a great idea because he loves to talk about mythology and minute details of the characters and their origin, their background, and other characters that have connected tissue. Because the whole theme of "Fast" has always been family, every character has to be rooted in that.
Every step that they take in their story has to be rooted in that theme and the purpose and the importance of family. Dialogue was happening with Vin and the producers and Louis going, "What's Han's motivation? Why does he do this stuff? What drives him? What is he feeling guilty about? What is his motivation to come back or survive this Rome heist? What makes him tick? What wakes him up in the morning? What keeps him on the straight line?" And it's Elle. Elle, in our story now, is in school and we wanted to incorporate her, but there's just so much real estate.
Hopefully, in the next, there's more opportunity, there's more room to explore that because that's what grounds the characters and makes them relatable. Driving fast and saving the world and hair flowing, all of that, that's nice. You need that. But then you want those moments with Gisele and Elle — a father Sung moment, a romantic moment. There's room for that.
How Elle Could Appear In Future Movies
Elle's name does appear on Dante Reyes' (Jason Momoa) hit list. Knowing that Dante is going after every individual who helped Dom in some capacity, audiences should expect Elle to return in future movies. Fast and Furious 11 will likely focus on the return of Gadot's Gisele and Dwayne Johnson's Luke Hobbs. However, it could also answer pressing questions on the fates of Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), who briefly appeared in Fast X, and Elle, who joined Dom's crew in F9 and was introduced to the Tokyo Drift trio, Sean Boswell (Lucas Black), Earl (Jason Tobin), and Twinkie (Bow Wow), whose fates are also unknown.
With Gisele returning, one should expect an on-screen reunion between herself and Han, which could also mean that Elle will return in some capacity after learning that Han is in danger. Han's fate is currently unknown, as he was in the plane that was blown up by Aimes (Alan Ritchson) with Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel), Tej Parker (Ludacris), and Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson) also on board. That alone could bring Mr. Nobody out of hiding and contact Elle about Han's current situation.
There are many plot threads that Fast X deliberately left unanswered, but there are also plenty of characters who appeared in previous installments and whose fates are now in danger, with Dante going after every one of them. The next movie could focus on these characters, including Elle, before they unite with Dom's crew and battle Dante. Time will tell how Elle's return will impact the franchise when the sequel to Fast X releases in theaters in 2025.
Source: Insider