| Fast X | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Louis Leterrier[a] |
| Screenplay by | Dan Mazeau Justin Lin |
| Story by |
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| Based on | Characters byGary Scott Thompson |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Stephen F. Windon |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Brian Tyler |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Universal Pictures[1] |
Release dates |
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Running time | 141 minutes[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $378.8 million[3] |
| Box office | $714.4 million[4][5] |
Fast X is a 2023 Americanaction film directed byLouis Leterrier from a screenplay written byDan Mazeau andJustin Lin, both of whom also co-wrote the story withZach Dean. It is the sequel toF9 (2021), the tenth main installment, and the eleventh installment overall in theFast & Furious franchise. It starsVin Diesel asDominic Toretto, alongsideMichelle Rodriguez,Tyrese Gibson,Chris "Ludacris" Bridges,John Cena,Nathalie Emmanuel,Jordana Brewster,Sung Kang,Scott Eastwood,Daniela Melchior,Alan Ritchson,Helen Mirren,Brie Larson,Rita Moreno,Jason Statham,Jason Momoa, andCharlize Theron. In the film, Toretto must protect his family from Dante Reyes (Momoa), who pursues revenge for his father's death and the loss of their fortune.
Development on a tenth mainFast & Furious film began by October 2020, with Lin returning to direct. The film's official title was revealed whenprincipal photography began in April 2022. Lin left as director later that month, citing creative differences, though he retained writing and producing credits. Leterrier was then hired as his replacement a week later and performed severaluncredited rewrites to the screenplay. Longtime franchise composerBrian Tyler returned to score the film. With an estimated production budget of $378 million,Fast X is thefourth-most expensive film ever made. Filming lasted until that August, taking place in London, Rome, Turin, Lisbon, and Los Angeles.
Fast X premiered in Rome on May 12, 2023, and was released in the United States on May 19, byUniversal Pictures. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its action sequences and Momoa's performance but criticism towards the writing. It grossed $714 million worldwide, becoming thefifth-highest-grossing film of 2023. A sequel that reportedly serves as the final main installment is in development and is scheduled to be released in 2026.
Dominic "Dom" Toretto and his team are requested by the Agency to steal a computer chip during its transit inRome. He and his wife Letty Ortiz stay behind with his son Brian "Little B" Marcos, while the rest of the team, consisting of Roman Pearce, Tej Parker,Han Lue, and Ramsey, travels to Rome. A wounded Cipher arrives at Dom's home in the middle of the night. She tells him and Letty that Hernan Reyes's son Dante has turned her crew against Cipher and is using them to target Dom as revenge for his father's death and the loss of his family's fortune ten years prior.[b] The next morning, when Little Nobody informs Dom and Letty about the unplanned Agency mission in Rome, they realize this as a setup and travel to Rome to rescue the team.
In Rome, Tej and Ramsey break into a truck presumably containing the computer chip, only for them to realize it as a DM-79 sub-nautical neutron mine. Dante begins controlling the truck remotely, activating and releasing the bomb into the streets. Dom arrives and pushes the bomb into theTiber River, minimizing the damage, and Letty is apprehended by the police. Aimes, the Agency'sde facto leader since Mr. Nobody's disappearance,[c] assumes that Dom and his team are responsible for the bombing and begins a manhunt. In Los Angeles, Dom and Mia's brother Jakob rescues Little B and Mia from a squad sent by Aimes to apprehend them, and with Mia's approval, takes Little B to a secret location in Portugal, where they will await Dom. Mr. Nobody's daughter Tess is convinced of the team's innocence and uses God's Eye, amass surveillance computer program, to find Dom inNaples, informing him that Dante is inRio de Janeiro.
Dom challenges Dante to a race in Rio with Elena Neves's sister Isabel and his ally Diogo. In the ensuing race, Dante kills Diogo when Dom chooses to save Isabel and wins. Tess visits Letty at the black site, covertly wounding her in the process; this sends Letty to the prison's treatment center, where Cipher is present. Deducing that the black site is located inAntarctica, they must work together to escape. In London, Dom's team turns to Deckard Shaw for help, through the convincing of Han after a scuffle between himself and Deckard. Aimes apprehends Dom in Rio before Dante intercepts them on the same bridge where the two previously met for the first time during the vault heist. After a sniper injures Tess, Dante steals God's Eye from her.
While Tess is taken to the hospital, Aimes allies with Dom to fight Dante. He locates Little B in Portugal and kidnaps him. As Dom is cornered by mercenaries, Jakob sacrifices himself to wipe them all out, allowing Dom to rescue Little B. Dante again corners the pair and acknowledges Aimes as a double agent working with him, at which point the latter shoots down a plane carrying Roman, Tej, Han, and Ramsey. Dom drives off the edge of the dam he and Little B are on to avoid another trap. Witnessing their escape, Dante triggers explosives planted onto the dam, intending to kill the pair. In Antarctica,Gisele Yashar, who was presumed dead,[d] emerges from a submarine to rescue Letty and Cipher.
In amid-credits scene, Luke Hobbs infiltrates an abandoned theatre with a team of agents where he is contacted by Dante, who tells him that he will be his next target for killing his father. Hobbs replies that he is not hard to find, and crushes the phone Dante contacted him on with his bare hands.
Gal Gadot andDwayne Johnson reprise their roles from the franchise uncredited asGisele Yashar andLuke Hobbs during the final scene andmid-credits scene, respectively.[30][31][32]Joaquim de Almeida reprises his role as Hernan Reyes, a ruthless drug lord and Dante's father, fromFast Five, while Leo Abelo Perry portrays Brian "Little B" Marcos, Dom's son.[33]Luis Da Silva reprises his role fromFast Five as Diogo, a Brazilian street racer who allies with Dom and his crew.[34] Makingcameo appearances are Brazilian singerLudmilla as a race starter in Rio de Janeiro,[35]Pete Davidson as Bowie, a friend of Ramsey,[36]Paul Walker asBrian O'Conner in flashback scenes[37] and his daughterMeadow as a flight attendant helping Jakob,[38] and married coupleDebby Ryan andJosh Dun (credited as themselves) as a couple in an airport.[39]
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In November 2014,Universal Pictures chairwomanDonna Langley confirmed that a discussion regarding three sequels toFurious 7 (2015) had taken place.[40] ActorVin Diesel reaffirmed this in September 2015, alluding the trilogy could lead to the mainline series' conclusion.[41] Universal began developing two further sequels toF9 (2021) by October 2020.Justin Lin was to direct both films,[42] with the tenth,Fast X,[43] reworked to make its story the first half of a two-part finale, with the eleventh serving as the second half.[44]Neal H. Moritz, Diesel,Jeff Kirschenbaum, Samantha Vincent, and Lin served as producers; Joe Caracciolo Jr., David Cain, Amanda Lewis,Chris Morgan andMark Bomback were executive producers.[45]
Lin andDan Mazeau began writing their first draft in April 2022.[46] That June,Tyrese Gibson announcedFast X would see the franchise "going back to its roots", with reports indicating this to be a return tostreet racing elements of previous entries,[47] although he also shared details the film would also continue to explore the history of the Toretto family in a "similar" vein toF9.[48] Leterrier later revealed the film focuses on increased familial responsibilities, saying, "Dom was always a lone wolf. He was living a quarter mile at a time [but] the stakes are real now. [He is] responsible for a human being, an innocent life [he] brought into the world".[29] During an August 2022 interview withComicBook,Nathalie Emmanuel said "the stakes are higher on a more personal level in this [film]", indicating a more grounded approach compared to previous installments.[49] In developing the character of Dante, Leterrier revealed they wanted to forge the "anti-Dom", saying, "[Dante] is theyang of [Dom's]yin, the antichrist of his Christ", and wanted to give Dante clear motivation with Dom's role in Dante's origin story, noting, "There are strong ties with [Dante and Dom] and that is what makes an amazing villain because you understand why they became this and [their motivations]".[29] Leterrier noted Larson's character as also being influenced by "the generational legacy of the characters", saying, "Everybody [in the franchise] has a different point of view on Dom and his own influence on their lives. And that's how she [fits in]".[29]
Describing the film'sretcon ofFast Five (2011), Leterrier said it was to "explore the price of justice", noting, "[We]Rashomon'ed [the fifth film] to experience it through the eyes of Reyes, with Dom and Brian the thieves. We [wanted to] guide the audience to rethink everything they've experienced in the franchise [because] a good antagonist has their own truth, [separate] from the protagonists".[29] Leterrier noted the film touches on each previous installment, saying, "The snowball [of Dom's actions] has picked up speed and became an avalanche". Leterrier also said his favorite film in the franchise isFast Five.[29] Leterrier later revealed he performed severaluncredited rewrites to the entire screenplay on his initial travel to the set, stating he lacked sleep for the first four days he worked on the film.[50] During its early promotional run, Leterrier saidFast X explores the potential breakup of family, noting "people are going to need to take sides [and] alliances will need to be made" compounded by "[the] war brewing" between the characters, saying "there will be some tremendous casualties".[51] He later confirmed the film will end on acliffhanger,[52] and further hinted at character deaths, saying, "The beauty of the end of this franchise [is] understanding these characters will [not] live forever. Only inWesterns do cowboys gallop out into the sunset. This is different; the stakes even more than they've been before".[53] This was seemingly confirmed byMichelle Rodriguez, who considered the fan reaction to the ending, saying, "You're going to feel so cheated in a way, but then so gratified and excited about what's to come. After 23 years of [making films], it's really tough at this stage to shock me, and they got me good".[54] She reiterated this in a promotional interview withCollider forDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023), saying the ending ofFast X would "[leave] people really surprised and we're [going to] getopen mouths at the end. In [the] theater, I was like, 'Oh my god. What have we done?!'".[55] As one of his early ideas, Leterrier considered to have Jakob killed off due to the character's previous villainous role inF9. He felt the stakes of Jakob's death were important toFast X's overall story and concluded Jakob'scharacter arc, as it represented sacrifice to save Dom and Little B.[56][57]
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In June 2021, Diesel announced the film would be split in a two-part culmination to the franchise, with principal photography slated to begin in January 2022 and take placeback-to-back.[58][59] In December 2021,Dwayne Johnson ruled out returning as Luke Hobbs forFast X, and labeled anInstagram post by Diesel asking for his return as "manipulation",[60] with publications indicating he was referring to a feud with Diesel stemming from Diesel's role as a producer onThe Fate of the Furious (2017).[61][62] He ultimately reprised his role in amid-credits scenecameo appearance.[31][32][30]
In early 2022,Jason Momoa was cast as Dante, the villain,[22] whileDaniela Melchior,Brie Larson, andAlan Ritchson joined the cast by that April.[9][14][10]Keanu Reeves was originally approached to play Aimes, having been previously in talks to join the franchise as the villainous Eteon Director inHobbs & Shaw (2019): Ritchson was ultimately cast after being contacted by Lin while Ritchson was filmingOrdinary Angels (2024). Ritchson accepted the role while production onOrdinary Angels was halted due to a blizzard affecting the film'sWinnipeg set.[63] Ritchson assumed the directorial change would subsequently result in his own replacement but he was retained onFast X by producerJeff Kirschenbaum.[63] Larson was initially hesitant to immediately join another franchise after starring in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), saying, "I was scared of what would happen [by joiningFast & Furious]. But what I always come back to is, I have to live with myself in a way that nobody else has to. The choices I make, I have to live with, whether I regret them or not",[64] but statedFast & Furious was her "dream franchise", saying, "I've been begging to be in this for years. Being part of something you've watched your whole life and that you love is an amazing feeling".[65]
In a March 2023 interview withTotal Film, Larson revealed she would portray Tess, the daughter of government agent and covert operations team leader Mr. Nobody; she described Tess as "a bridge", saying, "she doesn't go along with the Agency. She believes in the legacy her father set up, standing with Dom and the Toretto family".[66] Describing Momoa's addition, directorLouis Leterrier said Dante is "an incredible new character. It's 1,000 per cent Momoa",[67] whileMichelle Rodriguez said Dante is "malicious but he can be playful. It's like a fresh energy. There's something charming about him".[68] She later labeled Dante as the best male villain in the franchise, describing him as "revenge with a smirk".[69] After being cast, Momoa was initially apprehensive over filming conditions due to the reports of conflict on set between Diesel and Lin,[70] and said he accepted the role toplay against type.[71] In May,Rita Moreno was cast as Abuelita, the grandmother of Dom, Jakob, and Mia,[19] with Leterrier describing her inclusion as the "guiding light that Dom is following", adding, "[Abuelita] is his conscience, [she is one] of the people that keep him grounded. When your grandmother you haven't seen for years gives you a message that becomes guiding for the second part of your life, you listen".[29] In a February 2023 interview withCollider, Moreno's grandson said he pitched for her inclusion inFast X after he met Diesel at the premiere forWest Side Story (2021), which starred Moreno.[72]
On December 23, 2022, it was revealed thatGal Gadot, who portrayedGisele Yashar in three previous installments, filmed a scene forFast X; according to social media reports, she appeared in one of two versions of the film screened three days prior, with further details about the nature of her return undisclosed.[73] Gadot's potential return was met with mixed reception by fans and critics; some criticized the franchise's history of reviving dead characters to capitalize onstar power, labeling it "ineffective"fan service which negatively impacts the previous installments and the story of the franchise.[74][75][76] Others were positive about Gadot's potential return, citing her portrayal of one of the franchise's most popular characters.[77] In a February 2023 interview withComicBook,Sung Kang refused to rule out Gadot's character being resurrected inFast X.[78] As the final cast rounded out, it sparked debate that it could create a story problem for the film; writing forScreen Rant, Ryan Northrup said, "With such a large cast, it's uncertain whetherFast X will be able to serve [every] character in a satisfying way. With many new and returning characters, [every] arc may not be as fleshed out [and if] new characters aren't given much screen time or development, [it will be] a disappointment. [It may be] up to the finale to rectify [it]".[79]
A month later, a leaked email fromThe Hollywood Reporter revealed some crew returned after principal photography had completed to film a "button or tag" (a mid orpost-credits scene) that will feature "a guest cameo".[80] Gadot and Johnson ultimately reprised their roles in cameo appearances.[30] Rodriguez and Diesel later said Gadot's return had been planned for previous installments (going as far as to film unused cameos), with Diesel reasoning the decision to include Gadot inFast X was done because it "fit the [film]". He also said, "Doing tags is tricky because you want great talent but at the same time you have to be very careful to maintain the emotional state of your audience".[81]
Following the release of the film's trailer on February 9, 2023, Leterrier hinted archival footage featuringPaul Walker from previous films may be used inFast X, saying, "Brian is very much alive in [this franchise]. This [film] jumps back and forth between the past and the present. You will see Brian in the past, you won't see Brian in the present. [His] family is part of this franchise. It has to be the right moment, the right tone [if] Brian has to re-enter the franchise. [It must be] as perfectas how he left".[82] Regarding Walker's inclusion, Rodriguez said, "It's really hard to [make the films] without a blessing of some sort from [his] family because it's everything. Without that kind of like that love from them, we would be lost". She also revealedFurious 7 (2015) is her favorite film in the franchise, citing its emotional tribute to Walker.[83] Diesel similarly commented on Walker's potential inclusion in the film in a March 2023 interview withTotal Film, saying, "[Universal] made a bold, righteous, and daring decision to keep Brian O'Conner alive. I couldn't image this saga ending without truly saying goodbye to Brian".[53]
Principal photography began on April 21, 2022, with the film's title being revealed andMichelle Rodriguez,Tyrese Gibson,Chris "Ludacris" Bridges,Jordana Brewster,Nathalie Emmanuel,Sung Kang, andCharlize Theron confirmed to reprise their roles.[6][28] According to Diesel, an earlier draft excluded Brewster's character, which he overturned.Fast X's production budget was initially reported to be $300 million in May 2022, which was revised to $340 million that November; the cast was reportedly paid $100 million for their involvement,[84] including $20 million for Diesel.[85] Other costs for the rising budget (which factors in tax-incentive offsets) included increases in production costs caused byglobal inflation and charges for pandemic testing requirements mandated by COVID-19 safety protocols.[86] According to unnamed sources reporting toRadar, Diesel reportedly "stressed" over the increased budget and the creative decisions inFast X; sources wrote Diesel is considered by Universal as "simultaneously the greatest star [they've] had and their biggest headache" and that "[Diesel] doesn't let anybody forget [how] theFast & Furious franchise is important to the whole [film] industry".[87]
A week after filming commenced, Lin exited the film as director due to "creative differences", leaving primary production stalled. However, Lin remained on board as a producer.[88] Later reports alleged that Lin clashed on set with Diesel, who purportedly arrived out of shape, was often late, and did not remember his lines.[89] Lin was also upset with rewrites to his screenplay, as well as changing filming locations and one of the film's villains having yet to be cast;[84] a disagreement with Diesel reportedly escalated to the point it caused Lin to shout, "This movie is not worth my mental health".[90] Lin reportedly forewent pay in the region of $10–20 million in his departure.[91]Second unit production remained ongoing in the United Kingdom while the studio sought a replacement director andUniversal Pictures reportedly spent $1 million a day to pause production.[92][93] FormerFast & Furious directorsF. Gary Gray andDavid Leitch, who previously directedThe Fate of the Furious (2017) andHobbs & Shaw (2019) respectively, were considered by the studio to replace Lin, however neither were seen as likely to step in due to their commitments withLift andThe Fall Guy (both 2024), respectively.[94][46]Furious 7 (2015) directorJames Wan, who was once considered to directThe Fate of the Furious (2017) andF9 (2021) but declined due to his straining experience onFurious 7 (2015), was seen as a "viable option" but was tied up with commitments toAquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023), the finalDC Extended Universe (DCEU) film.[46][95]Variety reported hiring an "A-list" director was not probable without drastic changes to the screenplay and Universal would likely turn to asecond unit director "well-versed" in big-budget action films.[46] On May 2, 2022,Louis Leterrier was announced as Lin's replacement;[96] he was previously shortlisted by Universal to directThe Fate of the Furious (2017).[97]
Leterrier had an established relationship with Universal, having directed the MCU filmThe Incredible Hulk (2008), and he was knowledgeable about the franchise;[98] he and franchise starJason Statham went to watch the original film in Paris in 2001 while on a break from filmingThe Transporter (2002).[99] Leterrier joined filming in London after scheduling and contractual considerations were confirmed;[100][101] he later revealed he initially rejected the offer to direct the film, labeling it a "massive" task.[50] Leterrier went onto use elements of Lin's original contributions, such as the established crew, as well as Lin's shot lists and storyboards, to complete the film.[91] Production in London concluded in mid-August, with scenes filmed atWarner Bros. Studios, Leavesden.[102] Rodriguez later revealed a fight sequence between her and Theron was shot without a principal director, being done while studio negotiations with Leterrier were ongoing.[54] Describing his style for the film, Leterrier said, "I'm more practical than other directors, and I brought [the franchise] back to earth", revealing he favored more practical stunts (including a return of racing scenes featuring a "vertical quarter mile race") enhanced with visual effects,[103] as opposed to the extensive use ofcomputer-generated imagery (CGI) in the recent installments.[51][29]
Filming took place inGenzano di Roma[104] in mid-May. Filming took place inRome for two weeks in mid-May,[105] and one week in mid-July,[106] with scenes being shot at theVia Cristoforo Colombo,Lungotevere,Via dei Fori Imperiali,Ponte Umberto I,Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II, and the area around theCastel Sant'Angelo and theSpanish Steps.[107] Filming then took place inTurin between May 24 and June 6, with action sequences filmed at the Piazza Crimea and Corso Fiume, Murazzi del Po, Via Roma, and the Piazza IV Marzo.[108] To allow filming in Turin, local authorities, the Film Commission Torino Piemonte, and city councilors were required to conduct a five-month planning schedule from September 2021 to January 2022, collaborating with the Departments of Culture to coordinate the city's major events, roads and transport, public, and security around the film's requirements. This included managing the overflight of drones and limitations on circulation made necessary for the management and safety of the set.[109]
Momoa began shooting his scenes on May 16.[105] Like previous installments, Diesel supervised writing and design of the film's action sequences; according to unnamed sources toThe Hollywood Reporter, Diesel's creative control and frequent last-minute changes reflect "a process [which] is like a mosaic that doesn't stop moving", labeling him "demanding" and a perfectionist.[90] On June 6, it was reported a stuntman was injured in an accident after being hit by part of a car after an explosion.[110] On July 22, in an interview withDeadline Hollywood while atSan Diego Comic-Con, Rodriguez announced she had completed filming her scenes and said "only four [or] five weeks [are] left" in production.[111] Filming inAngelino Heights (the location of the Toretto house) faced protest from some local residents after production gave notice of the filming of a sequence which would involve "simulated emergency services activity, aerial photography, wetting down of street and atmospheric smoke". According to those residents, the protest was to raise awareness for road safety education, claiming the franchise caused their neighborhood to become a hot spot for fans to engage in street racing and other dangerous activity.[112] Filming managed to occur following the protest on August 26,[113] while other portions were filmed in Portugal, includingLisbon,Almada,Viseu, andVila Real. Conceição Azevedo, the mayor of Viseu, announced filming would take place on IP5, a highway in theVouzela municipality, during an interview withLusa News Agency.[114] Ritchson finished filming his scenes by August 16,[115] and hinted at flying cars in the film, stating "we're going to take it to the sky".[116]
During filming, Sofia Noronha, a producer for Sagesse Productions (the company in charge of overseeing production ofFast X in Portugal) said a "brutal economic investment" will be made in the country by the film. Highlighting the weather, affordability throughtax breaks, and flexibility of the production, Noronha argued "investments [from film] made in the country is almost double that tax incentive. The [producing] country always benefits".[114] This was echoed during filming in Turin, with it reported the two-week schedule generated€3.8 million for the local economy, coming mainly from expenses related to location rent, hospitality, technical staff and local workforce employment, security and sanitation, and storage and unloading. It was also reported the film regularly brought troupes of close to 400 people (5 times above average for comparable films) and often collaborated with hundreds of local professionals on the research of locations and finalization of the working filming plan.[108] In a statement, Beatrice Borgia, President of Film Commission Torino Piemonte, said "Fast X is a confirmation of the key role Turin andPiedmont has gained in filmmaking. [We have] proved to have all what is needed to host complex productions: skilled professionals, supportive institutions, and amazing locations".[108]
Fast X is the first film in the series to featureelectric cars, with leaked set photos featuring the 2024Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Banshee Concept and the gull-wingedDeLorean Alpha5. Other vehicles include the 2022 TorRedDodge Charger R/T, the 2023 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye, and the 1970 Charger R/T, the latter a franchise staple.[117] On June 27, 2022, it was reportedFast X would include the fan-favorite orange and blackVeilsideMazda RX-7 FD Fortune, which first featured inThe Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006).[118] The inclusion of the electric Dodge Chargers in the film was confirmed upon release of the first trailer on February 9, 2023, with the "Greys of Thunder" Dodge Charger Daytona SRT also appearing in other promotional material. In an interview withFox News, a Dodge spokesperson said the company "has a long-standing marketing partnership withFast & Furious", which will continue withFast X.[119] Other vehicles which featured in the film include the foreign-madeLamborghini Gallardo,Alfa Romeo 159,Nissan Silvia,Porsche 911 997 GT3 RS,Pagani Huayra Tricolore, and theDatsun 240Z, as well as the U.S.-madeChevrolet Impala andEl Camino,Lenco BearCat Armoured Vehicle, and the 1966Ford Fairlane.[120] In an interview with vehicle co-ordinator Dennis McCarthy, who worked on everyFast & Furious film sinceTokyo Drift (2006), each significant car featured on screen required around seven duplicates, resulting in an estimated 200 cars built forFast X to race-car standards required for the stunt work.[121] In April 2023, Momoa revealed that he personally contactedJochen Zeitz, the CEO ofHarley-Davidson, to secure six motorcycles to be used in the film for his character.[122] He is seen riding the Harley-Davidson Pan America throughout the film, which was modified with an upgraded exhaust system and extra shielding.[123]
Dylan Highsmith and Kelly Matsumoto, both of whom were two of the three co-editors onF9, return as editors. Peter Chiang returns as the visual effects supervisor for the production, after doing so forF9, withDNEG andIndustrial Light & Magic as the returning visual effects vendors. In a July 2022 interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Michelle Rodriguez praised the addition of Leterrier and his predominantly French-speaking creative team, labeling it "the French takeover, dude". She stated Leterrier "came with all this energy of love [from] a real fan of [the] franchise who really wants to take it places that it hasn't gone before. It reminds you [how] beautiful and magical [filmmaking] is".[124] Several aerial shots were filmed withfirst-person view (FPV) drones with an attached WarpCam piloted by Johnny Schaer, similar to the filming techniques used for the action sequences inMichael Bay'sAmbulance (2022). Schaer previously supervised the drone-led filming inRawson Marshall Thurber'sRed Notice (2021).[125]
To createFast X's flashback sequence, the filmmakers used thedailies fromFast Five sourced from the archival department at Universal to secure "alternate takes and different angles". The pre-existing and unused footage was then composited to create the sequence, with characters into the footage usingmotion control photography and CGI.[126] In March 2023, the writing credits were finalized; Mazeau and Lin received screenplay credits, and both shared story credits withZach Dean.[127] In May, despite his initial refusal to return to the franchise, it was revealed thatDwayne Johnson accepted a late-stage return asLuke Hobbs in the film'smid-credits scene.[32]
The first single for the film's soundtrack, "Let's Ride", was released on February 10, 2023, performed byYG,Ty Dolla Sign, and Lambo4oe. The soundtrack features hip hop, pop, reggaeton, electronic rock, and rhythmic Latin tracks. The second song from the film, "Won't Back Down", performed byYoungBoy Never Broke Again,Bailey Zimmerman, andDermot Kennedy, was released on May 4. The soundtrack of the film was released on May 19, byArtist Partner Group.[128]
In March 2023 during post-production,Brian Tyler returned to composed the film score. Tyler had previously scored six of the franchise's installments, starting withThe Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006).[129] The official score album was being released on June 2, 2023, byBack Lot Music.[130]
Parts ofFast X previewed atCineEurope in Barcelona in June 2022, including a first look atJason Momoa andBrie Larson. Speaking of the film, Universal Pictures International President of Distribution, Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, stated the studio's drive was to continue to "cater to the diverse tastes" expected from the franchise.[131] At the 2022Grio Awards,Tyrese Gibson stated he watched the completed film on October 20, 2022, describing it as "crazy" with "just too much magic", and announced an extended version of the film's trailer would first premiere atSuper Bowl LVII on February 12, 2023.[132] This was seemingly confirmed in a December 2022 social media post byVin Diesel, who wrote the trailer was "less than two months away",[133] and was made it official in January 2023 post.[134] In a January 2023 report byCollider, it was confirmed the first trailer would debut worldwide on February 10, 2023 (after being screened at a private fan event a day prior); it was three minutes long,[135] and was followed with a Super Bowl spot alongsideDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,Cocaine Bear,Scream VI,65,Air,Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 andThe Flash (all 2023).[136][137] Beginning February 1, to promote the release of the trailer, officialrecuts of the trailers of each of the previous nine films, dubbed "Legacy Trailers", were released daily in conjunction withIGN.[138] The fan event took place at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles, being hosted byMaria Menounos and featuring Diesel, Rodriguez, Gibson, Ludacris, andCody Walker, the brother of the series' longtime initial starPaul Walker.[139] Similar fan events also took place in Mexico, France, and Japan but did not feature the cast.[140]
On February 1, the film's teaser poster was released, depicting Diesel alone in the center, bowing his head and clutching a cross between his fists on a dark to light backdrop. Writing forCollider, Safeeyah Kazi said his positioning depicts "an intense prayer" with the "small amount of light [from the cross] engulfing his fist acting as the optimism in the dark". She also said that the relative simplicity of the poster compared to the "color explosion" forF9 could indicate a grittier storyline inFast X. Kazi wrote the film's "the end of the road begins" tagline depicted "a new level of intensity", and speculated it could refer to the end for some of the franchise's characters.[141] In an analysis by Matt Singer ofWBUF, Singer described the poster as "somber", noting it as "remarkably tense" compared to the posters for other entries in the franchise.[142] Stills from the film detailing Momoa, Larson, and Diesel's characters were publicly released on February 9,[143] and was followed by a teaser showcasing the main cast a day later.[144] The official trailer then released soon after,[145] featuring an orchestral flip of "Notorious Thugs" byThe Notorious B.I.G. andBone Thugs-n-Harmony from the former's albumLife After Death (1997).[146] The trailer was mostly positively received; writing forGQ, Grant Rindner labeled the trailer "glorious absurdity", stating it is "as glossy and over-the-top as recent features". He commended the return of racing scenes, saying it "restores the original feeling" of the films, and said the music was an "operatic nail-biter".[147]
According to data from social media analytics company RelishMix, the film's Super Bowl trailer (dubbed "The Big Game Trailer") clocked 94.1 million views across social media in the 24-hour period following the game; it was the third most viewed trailer that aired at the event, behindGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (134.1 million views) andThe Flash (97.4 million).[148] It was the highest-viewed trailer which did not debut at the event,[148] but its view count was down from the 110.9 million views received byF9's Super Bowl trailer in2020, prior to that film's eventual delay. According to unnamed sources reporting toVariety, the first trailer accumulated an estimated 295 million views globally within the first 72 hours of release;[140]Instagram drove nearly 30% of views, followed byTikTok (25%), Facebook (22%), YouTube (18%) and Twitter (6%), with a majority of viewership coming in from international territories.Fast X also trended as the top topic on Twitter in the U.S. immediately after the trailer debut.[140] Similar to otherFast & Furious releases,Hot Wheels announced a themed basic assortment of cars set to feature inFast X, which is set to be released with the film.[149]
On March 14, 2023, the official theatrical poster was released; writing forCollider, Aidan King positively reviewed the poster, saying the vehicles placed around the characters are similar to a "high-octane drag race", indicating a return to the franchise's history as car-oriented films. He also noted the characters "loom above the drag [race] scene", referencing the franchise's thematic shift away from car culture.[150] Two featurettes were released, first on March 31 and then on April 7, 2023, with the main cast giving a behind-the-scenes look (with previously unseen footage) at the production of the film.[151][152] An additional featurette highlighting Diesel and Perry's characters was released on May 5, with the pair and Leterrier providing commentary.[153]
On April 19, the second full-length trailer and the film's official synopsis was released; it was generally praised by critics for its action and Momoa's presentation.[154] On May 2, a character trailer featuring Diesel and Rodriguez, titled "Fast X: Open Road", was released; writing for/Film, Bill Bria described it as "reflective". The trailer featured elements ofMax Richter's "On the Nature of Daylight" andDinah Washington's contributions from "This Bitter Earth", which Bria said "lent even more gravitas to the Dom/Letty highlight reel". He further praised the combination, stating "visuals so nakedly frivolous and music so achingly earnest" created "an exquisite tension".[155] Two days later, the free to play8-bit style gameFast X: Let's Race was launched online. The game features multipletop-downrace courses set in the film's locations of Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro, and Rome.[156] Diesel and Rodriguez then appeared in promotional spots at the2023 Miami Grand Prix,[citation needed] while in the United Kingdom, the film partnered with theCapital radio network to launch a competition for a listener to win a trip to Rome.[157] The extended four and a half-minute final trailer was released on May 15.[158]
On May 16,Philips announced a partnership with Universal Pictures in the Philippines, where one could win tickets alongside purchases of an Evnia gaming monitor.[159] Universal also partnered withFrito-Lay'sRuffles to create limited-editionFast X potato chips, which come with raffle tickets where fans could win a ticket; a lucky prize included the 2023Dodge Charger R/T.[160]
Fast X premiered on May 12, 2023, at theColosseum in Rome.[161] It was initially scheduled for release on April 2, 2021,[162] but was postponed to April 7, 2023, and finally May 19.[163] These shifts were reportedly made in response to theCOVID-19 pandemic, which led toF9's eventual postponement to June 2021 that causedFast X to be delayed.[164][165] It was widely released inIMAX and other premium large formats includingScreenX.[166][167] The film was cleared for release in China on March 28, 2023, marking one of the first large American films released in the country in 2023;Fast & Furious films have grossed over $1.2 billion in China since the release ofFast & Furious 6 (2013), and was one of the first countries whereF9 (2021) was released, being five weeks ahead of its domestic release.[168]
Fast X was released byUniversal Pictures Home Entertainment onpremium video on demand on June 9, 2023;[169] on4K Ultra HD,Blu-ray, andDVD on August 8;[170] and onPeacock on September 15.[171] Physical copies contain an audio commentary, behind-the-scenes featurettes, a blooper reel, and two music videos.[170]
Fast X grossed $146.1 million in the United States and Canada, and $568.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $714.4 million.[4][5] Prior to its release,TheWrap estimated the film would need to gross $800–850 million worldwide in order to turn a profit.[172]Variety later reported that the film "barely crawled into the black" but would post a modest profit for the studio.[173]
In the United States and Canada, tickets went on sale at midnight on February 9, 2023, a day prior to the premiere of the trailer.[166] According to a Fandango study, which surveyed over 6,000 ticket buyers between February and March 2023,Fast X was revealed to be the sixth-most anticipated film of the summer.[174] In April 2023, box office projections estimated that the film would gross $65–75 million in its opening weekend.[175] By the week of its release, estimates had been lowered to $60 million.[176] The film made $28 million on its first day, including $7.5 million from Thursday previews. It went on to debut to $67 million from 4,046 theaters, topping the box office.[177] Writing forTheWrap, Jeremy Fuster predicted thatFast X may be less profitable than some of its predecessors, citing the film's sudden increased overall production budget (at 70% larger thanF9) and the expected large marketing budget.[86] In its second weekend, the film made $23 million (dropping 66%), finishing second behind newcomerThe Little Mermaid.[178] In its third weekend,Fast X finished in fourth place and made $9.2 million for a drop of 61% behindThe Little Mermaid,The Boogeyman andSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.[179]
In the United Kingdom, tickets went on sale on May 5.[180] The film was projected to gross around $280 million worldwide in its opening weekend, including about $220 million from 84 countries.[176] Like its domestic debut, the film ended up slightly out-performing projections, making $252.7 million internationally and a total of $320 million worldwide.[181] It was the sixth-best opening weekend for a studio film since 2019, and second-biggest non-superhero title (behindAvatar: The Way of Water).[182] Its largest markets were China ($78 million), Mexico ($16 million), France ($9.6 million), and Brazil ($9.6 million).[183] The film set records for the highest-opening weekend release for a foreign film in Pakistan, with 19.98crore ($701,052).[184]
It would remain Universal's twentieth highest-grossing film of all time worldwide until 2024 with the release ofWicked.[185]
On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 56% of 310 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.7/10. The website's consensus reads: "As irredeemably silly as it is satisfyingly self-aware,Fast X should rev the engines of longtime fans while leaving many newcomers in neutral."[1]Metacritic, which uses aweighted average, assigned the film a score of 56 out of 100, based on 59 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[186] Audiences surveyed byCinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale, the same asF9 andthe first film but below other installments.PostTrak reported filmgoers gave the film an 82% positive score, with 67% saying they would definitely recommend it.[177]
Momoa's performance was widely praised by critics; Eric Eisenberg ofCinemaBlend said Momoa "plays Dante like [the]Fast & Furious version ofThe Joker", concluding it was a "delightful" portrayal of a "gleeful psychopath". Liam Crowley ofComicbook seconded this view, calling Momoa "hilarious", whileScreen Rant's Joseph Deckelmeier said Momoa brings "magic" to a performance which "oozes charisma".[187] In a mixed review, Brian Truitt ofUSA Today also praised Momoa's performance but criticized the screenplay, saying, "Laws of physics are pummeled at length and all logic is shot out of a cannon [with] its bizarre character choices and decisions".[188] TheChicago Sun-Times'sRichard Roeper gave the film two out of four stars and was more critical of Momoa's performance, writing, "[He] comes across as more of a preening, performance-art, sociopathic clown than a truly menacing villain".[189] Clarisse Loughrey ofThe Independent said that an "arbitrary" plot serves a "biblically-scaled soap opera [that] happily rewrites the laws of gravity and physiology to put a smile on its audience's faces", and praised the cast performances, namely Momoa's.[190]
In a less positive review, Charles Pulliam-Moore ofThe Verge criticized the return of former characters, saying the film has "convoluted twists and turns" which contribute to making it feel "exciting, but airless". He also wrote the large cast made its characters "feel like souped-up cameos meant to remind you of the past rather than figures organically existing in the present—especially when they just pop up out of nowhere, which happens more often than you'd expect". He also criticized the screenplay, saying "[Dom and Dante's] conflict ends up feeling like something that was mapped out on paper, but was not crafted tightly enough for on-screen".[191] This was echoed byDen of Geek's Don Kay, who lamented the lack of character beats for the supporting cast and the lack of stakes in the plot, although he praised Cena's performance, writing, "He plays to his comedic strengths and gets by on his sheer charisma".[192] Johnny Oleksinski of theNew York Post gave the film a one out of four rating, describing it as "another moronicFast film that plods along like99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall and features increasingly fake chases".[193] James Verniere of theBoston Herald gave it a C+ and wrote, "Dimwitted takes onThe Godfather films with street racers instead of gangsters".[194]
Alison Willmore ofVulture criticized Leterrier's direction, writing the film "plays like it was made by an AI versed in the existing [films] but not quite up to spitting out something coherent itself" and called its plot "deliriously unwieldy". She also criticized its cast as being bloated and its dialogue as feeling "engineered to be clipped and used without context for promotional purposes", concluding watchingFast X "feels like sustaining a head injury".[195] Writing forSlant, Greg Nussen criticized the acting performances and cinematography, calling it "overly lit [with] ultra-saturated images" and wrote that the film was "closer to fan fiction or self-parody than the real deal".[196] Writing forThe Wall Street Journal, Kyle Smith also criticized Leterrier's direction as overzealous, saying, "Leterrier rarely misses an opportunity to shred the storyline [to] end up with confetti, serving ridiculous action scenes [that] require much narrative corner-cutting".[197]
In a scathing review,GameSpot's Phil Owen said the film possesses "blurry backgrounds and weirdclose-up shots", negatively comparing it to low-budget films, and called the editing "distractingly frenetic". He also said the storyline "just rehashed plot threads and set pieces from past [films]", criticized the ending, and called Diesel's performance a "full-on parody of himself: [he plays] a bland character".[198] Kevin Maher ofThe Times called the film a "jaded and lackadaisical patch-up job", criticizing the cast performances,[199] whileRolling Stone's Chris Vognar said that the cast (besides Momoa) "mailed [their] performances in" and called the film uninspiring, writing, "Fast X feels like it was written by a software program".[200]
Fast X was nominated in five categories at the 2023Golden Trailer Awards: "Legacy Ride" (TRANSIT) for Best Action and Best Music, "Last Ride" (AV Squad) for Best Summer 2023 Blockbuster Trailer, "Clash" (TRANSIT) for Best Sound Editing in a TV Spot (for a Feature Film), and "Ensemble Shoot" (AV Squad) for Best Action/Thriller TrailerByte for a Feature Film. It won Best Action TV Spot (for a Feature Film) for "Ahead" (AV Squad).[201][202] It became a runner-up for Best Supporting Actor (Momoa) and received a nomination for Best Stunts at the6th Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Film Awards.[203] The film garnered nominations forBest Music Supervision – Film and Best Soundtrack Album at the14th Hollywood Music in Media Awards.[204] At the51st Saturn Awards,Fast X received nominations forBest Action or Adventure Film andBest Editing.[205][206] It was nominated for Best Stunts at the2nd Astra Film Creative Arts Awards.[207] Diesel was nominated forWorst Actor at the44th Golden Raspberry Awards.[208][209][210][211]
Immediately followingFast X's release, Diesel claimed that, depending on the film's performance, Universal aimed to produce two sequels. Leterrier later did not confirm whether the eleventh film would be the franchise's last installment.[212] A standalone sequel toFast X, titledFast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Reyes was soon announced, withDwayne Johnson andJason Momoa set to star.[213][214] Several reports in late May 2023 indicated that althoughFast X would directly lead to the development of an eleventh film,[215]Fast X's budget and relative modest box office performance meant any sequel would serve as the final film in the franchise. In January 2024, it was reported that an eleventh film could be "a throwback to the original", consisting of a single mission and a different antagonist instead of Dante.[216] One month later, Diesel confirmed the eleventh film would be the final installment in the franchise.[217] In May 2024, Leterrier announced that the film was delayed from its expected release date of April 4, 2025, to an unspecified date in 2026.[218]
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