Retroactive continuity has been used by the Fast Saga to create a lucrative franchise, much like a comic book run on the silver screen. Others are discovered to have been lurking in the background the entire time, while some characters are sadly killed off and then subsequently revived.
This summer’s Fast X, which opens with a Rashoman-style flashback to the famous vault heist in Fast Five from the perspective of Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa), son of South American drug king Hernan Reyes, carries on the trend of recontextualization. Dante had spent years researching Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), planning his retaliation against the man’s expanding family, and may have even used nitrous oxide for fuel.
Diesel said in an interview with Total Film for the publication’s April 2023 issue, “The last movie really dived into that, and dictated, of course, the reveal of the brother [Jakob, played by John Cena]” (now on sale). “According to that school of reasoning, the movies include so much unexplored area that, when you follow the plot, it results in a highly engaging and gratifying experience. You’ll understand why we went back to the fifth film for Fast X in the same way that we did for Fast 9 as the finale plays out.”
The penultimate segment of the popular movie was written by Justin Lin and Dan Mazeau. Last year, Louis Leterrier (of The Transporter and The Incredible Hulk fame) took over as director after Lin (who remained on the project in a producing role) stepped down. Leterrier also intended to go into the depths of established Fast & Furious history.
The filmmaker added, “As a fan, there are particular things from the franchise that I absolutely wanted back – the street races were one. “That’s the fun of it all: you get to make your fantasies come true when you’re in charge of a movie [series] that you’ve adored and been a fan of for so many years!”
Producers include Neal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel, Jeff Kirschenbaum, and Samantha Vincent. Executive producers include Mark Bomback, Chris Morgan, David Cain, Amanda Lewis, and Joseph M. Caracciolo, Jr.
Together with Scott Eastwood, Helen Mirren, Charlize Theron, Brie Larson, Rita Moreno, and Leo Abelo Perry, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, John Cena, Jason Statham, Sung Kang, Alan Ritchson, and Daniela Melchior also appear.
