(L to R) Vin Diesel, Director Louis Leterrier and Rita Moreno on the set of ‘Fast X.’
Preview:
Vin Diesel has announced the next ‘Fast & Furious’ movie.
‘Fast Forever’ will be with us in 2028.
Louis Leterrier will direct the movie.
Like a backfiring jalopy with engine trouble, there have been several frustrating false starts for the next –– and most likely final –– ‘Fast & Furious’ movie.
Despite multiple announcements (including more than one from star, producer and ‘Fast’ cheerleader Vin Diesel) about different dates, budget wrangling and schedule issues have given the potential franchise wrap-up flat tires along the way.
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Now, though, it appears that everyone is on the same page (or maybe dirt track?) as both Diesel and studio backers Universal have announced that the new movie, now called ‘Fast Forever’ will be with us in 2028.
Jason Momoa as Dante in ‘Fast X’, directed by Louis Leterrier.
The typically stunt-heavy final minutes of 2023’s ‘Fast X’ show Diesel’s Dom Toretto driving down the side of a dam and into the water below, as he and his son, Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry), race to escape a trap set by the villainous Dante (Jason Momoa), who arms a series of bombs. Then the movie cuts to black.
Two credit scenes follow, teasing the returns of Dwayne Johnson’s Hobbs and Gal Gadot‘s Gisele.
Universal has confirmed that the movie will be screeching into cinemas on March 17, 2028.
(Clockwise, from left) Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Han (Sung Kang), Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel), Dom (Vin Diesel), Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry), Abuelita (Rita Moreno), Mia (Jordana Brewster), Tej (Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, back to camera) and Roman (Tyrese Gibson, back to camera) in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
(L to R) Tyrese Gibson and Scott Eastwood star in ‘1992’.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Tyrese Gibson and Scott Eastwood about their work on ‘1992’, making a heist movie with the backdrop of the LA Riots, their characters, collaborating with director Ariel Vromen and working with the legendary Ray Liotta.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews.
Scott Eastwood as Riggin Bigby in the Action, Crime, Thriller film, ‘1992’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
Moviefone: To begin with, Scott, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and the idea of making a heist movie with the backdrop of the LA Riots?
Scott Eastwood: I am always attracted to heist movies. One, I loved movies like ‘The Town’ and ‘Den of Thieves’. I think if you like those types of movies, you’ll like this type of movie because it’s a heist movie, but it’s got high stakes, and it’s set upon the backdrop, like you said. It’s also really grounded. It’s got some dynamic character issues that create a lot of conflict, and that stood out for me in this film.
MF: Tyrese, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and the plot of the film?
Tyrese Gibson: The crazy thing is when I got the ‘1992’ script, we read it and then at some point got on with Ariel Vromen, our director, who is brilliant, and I love him so much. After reading the script, I realized quickly that I don’t want to do a heist movie and I don’t want to just do a movie about the riots. So, if we can’t do them both, then this is not a movie for me because there’s plenty of documentaries. So yeah, it was a journey to pull this all together. I was there protesting on April 29th, 1992. So was Snoop Dogg, believe it or not. So, it’s unbelievable to be here. God has a sense of humor like, “You’re in the riots, you’re out there protesting, you’re active, you got your boots on the ground, and I’m glad you’re doing this right now because 30 years from now, you’re about to do a movie.” What a life.
Tyrese Gibson as Mercer in the Action, Crime, Thriller film, ‘1992’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
MF: Scott, can you talk about your approach to this character and why this heist is so important to him?
SE: I think this is his Moby Dick, right? He’s got to do this to get out. This is for him. He does not want to be in this world. He’s got other dreams of getting out. The character was an amalgamation of guys I’d seen growing up, Riverside guys, East County guys, rough around the edges, tatted up. I had seen guys like that growing up, so I was able to steal character traits and things and pepper it in there.
MF: Can you talk about his uneasy relationship with his father and what it was like working with Ray Liotta?
SE: It was perfect because Ray is a no-bulls**t kind of guy. You know what you’re getting with him, and he doesn’t intellectualize about the work. It’s like, “Let’s do it.” So, there was an uneasiness about it and I think it created for exactly the relationship we have. There was an uneasiness, there was conflict. He’s a master. When they say action, he’s electric.
(L to R) Ray Liotta as Lowell and Christopher A’mmanuel as Antoine in the Action, Crime, Thriller film, ‘1992’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
MF: Tyrese, what was your experience like working with Ray Liotta?
TG: Ray Liotta was dark. He was intense, man. You walk up to him on the set, “Hey, Ray, how are you doing?” “Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.” He was really in it, which I appreciate. I’m one of those guys who’s like, “I don’t need you to explain what your space and what your zone is and how you go about getting in the spirit of your role.” But when it was time for us to do our scenes together, all that distance and being mean in my mind, it all showed up on camera.
MF: Scott, can you talk about the unlikely alliance that Riggin makes with Mercer?
SE: Look, they’re both in a father-son standoff, which is interesting. I like the parallel stories that go through the whole film about fathers and sons, and I thought that was one of the more interesting parts of this film.
Tyrese Gibson as Mercer in the Action, Crime, Thriller film, ‘1992’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
MF: Tyrese, can you talk about how prison changed your character and what he’s trying to teach his son?
TG: I think this specific character is Mr. Self-Sabotage, where there’s problems, where there’s issues, where there’s some street Crips and Bloods and shooting and killing. Just a typical dude in the hood that’s just going to end up on another episode of ‘The First 48’. That was my character, just got nothing to live for, and then had this child. The mother of my child knew that I was still out there very active and crazy, and just basically isolated me away from having a presence in my son’s life. Then she died and grandmother died, and I got full custody. So now you have this dynamic between, “You are my father, but you haven’t been present, and I know everybody here probably more than you.” Then trying to get him to understand that there’s nobody else here that matters in your life more than me, and everything about you being safe from this point on is going to happen on my back. Understanding you’re not my friend, you’re my son. If you don’t like what I’m saying and what I’m talking about or where we’re going, it’s not up for discussion. I’m your father. Get in the car, we’re leaving. That’s what we wanted to establish with that dynamic. Then the duality of me and my son versus the dynamic of Ray Liotta, rest in peace, and Scott, which just really built the contrast, it was inspiring and interesting.
(L to R) Director/Co-Writer Ariel Vromen, Ray Liotta as Lowell and Scott Eastwood as Riggin Bigby behind the scenes of the Action, Crime, Thriller film, ‘1992’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
MF: Scott, what was it like collaborating with director Ariel Vromen on set?
SE: Ariel’s great. I’ve known Ariel for 20 years. Way before we ever decided to work together, we were friends. When I had seen him do ‘The Iceman’, I was like, “Let’s try to find something together.” I thought that was a well-executed film. This just fell into place. It was the right character, it was the right age, the right thing, and I thought it was an interesting original story.
MF: Finally, is it fun making a heist movie?
SE: I think there’s some exhausting moments, but there’s also some fun moments. It’s like any film. This film, a lot of it took place at night, so that’s tough. Nights are tough. Doing any action movie is tough. Your body’s beat up by the end of it. You’re crushed.
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What is the plot of ‘1992’?
In 1992, Mercer (Tyrese Gibson) endeavors to restore his life and relationship with his son during the unrest following the Rodney King verdict. Meanwhile, in another part of town, a father (Ray Liotta) and son (Scott Eastwood) confront their troubled relationship by planning a perilous heist at Mercer’s workplace. As tensions in Los Angeles escalate and chaos ensues, the two family’s cross paths.
(L to R) Ori Pfeffer as Murphy, Dylan Arnold as Dennis, Ray Liotta as Lowel, Clé Bennett as Copeland, Scott Eastwood as Riggin Bigby, and Oleg Taktarov as Titus in the Action, Crime, Thriller film, ‘1992’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
Vin Diesel as Dom in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
The past always has a way of catching up with Dominic Toretto and his gang. This time, someone from Dom’s past shows up in the most unexpected way, putting everyone in danger, including Dom’s son – Little B.
“Over many missions and against impossible odds, Dom Toretto and his family have outsmarted and outdriven every foe in their path. Now, they must confront the most lethal opponent they’ve ever faced. Fueled by revenge, a terrifying threat emerges from the shadows of the past to shatter Dom’s world and destroy everything — and everyone — he loves.”
‘Fast X’ premiered in Rome on May 12, 2023. It opened in theaters domestically on May 19th. The film opened to $67 million and has grossed over $676.9 million worldwide since its release.
The Past Continues To Haunt Dominic Toretto
(L to R) Vin Diesel and Daniela Melchior in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
Trouble always seems to find its way to Dominic Toretto’s doorstep, much like when ‘Fate of the Furious’ villain Cypher (Charlize Theron) shows up at Dom’s home badly injured. She tells Dom of a new threat named Dante, who turns out to be the son of drug lord Herman Reyes. Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida) appeared in ‘Fast Five’ and met his end after chasing Dom’s team for the vault.
Played by Jason Momoa, Dante seeks revenge for his father’s death and will stop at nothing to hurt Dom – including kidnapping his son Brian. Dante may be the franchise’s most interesting and formidable villain so far – outsmarting Dom in ways we’ve never seen before. Fashionable, unhinged, and outright entertaining to watch, Dante steals every scene he is in.
New Players Entering ‘The Fast & Furious’ Franchise
(Right) Brie Larson is Tess in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
Joining the Fast family are Brie Larson (‘Captain Marvel’), Alan Ritchson (‘Dark Web: Cicada 3301’), and Daniela Melchior (‘The Suicide Squad’). Brie Larson portrays Tess, who is revealed to be the daughter of Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell). She is helping Dom and his team in their fight against Dante Reyes. Alan Ritchson plays Aimes, the new head of The Agency. Daniela Melchior plays Isabel, a Brazilian street racer who is connected to someone from Dom’s past.
There is more than meets the eye with these new characters, so you should check out the movie to find out exactly who they are and if they’re on Team Dom or plotting against them.
Where Can I Watch ‘Fast X’?
Jason Momoa as Dante in ‘Fast X’, directed by Louis Leterrier.
The film was released theatrically in the United States on May 19th, 2023, and its follow-up is already announced to be released on April 4th, 2025. While the movie is already available on VOD, you can still catch the high-octane action in theaters. ‘Fast X’ is available in IMAX, Dolby Atmos, 3D, and 4DX format, so be sure to check with Moviefone below for showtimes in your area. ‘Fast X’ has a total runtime of 2 hours and 21 minutes, making it the second-longest movie in the franchise.
You now have the option to rent or purchase ‘Fast X’ on VOD for $19.99 or $24.99, respectively. The movie is available on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Direct TV, Google Play, Vudu, Microsoft, YouTube, AppleTV, and Redbox.
As the movie is distributed by Universal Pictures, Peacock subscribers (in both Premium and Premium Plus tiers) will be able to stream ‘Fast X’ once available – likely to be in late August or early September though no official date has been announced by the studio.
No official date has been announced for the DVD/Blu-Ray release of the film, though pre-orders are already available from stores such as Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Best Buy.
(Clockwise, from left) Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Han (Sung Kang), Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel), Dom (Vin Diesel), Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry), Abuelita (Rita Moreno), Mia (Jordana Brewster), Tej (Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, back to camera) and Roman (Tyrese Gibson, back to camera) in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
(Clockwise, from left) Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Han (Sung Kang), Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel), Dom (Vin Diesel), Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry), Abuelita (Rita Moreno), Mia (Jordana Brewster), Tej (Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, back to camera) and Roman (Tyrese Gibson, back to camera) in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
‘Fast X’ opening in theaters on May 19th, is the latest entry in the sprawling, wildly successful franchise that begun in much more humble fashion as a take on ‘Point Break’s undercover lawman genre in 2001 and his since spiraled into a bombastic action franchise revolving around the endlessly repeated theme of family.
After a muted, disappointing entry with ‘F9: The Fast Saga’ in 2021 (which nevertheless did good business), it’s a relief to report that fans of the franchise, led by star/producer Vin Diesel, is a return to the ridiculous, stunt-heavy, common sense-free form that we’ve come know and appreciate.
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What’s the story of ‘Fast X?
Dominic Toretto (Diesel) is back living in the family home in Los Angeles with wife Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) and son Brian (Leo Abelo Perry). It’s a relatively quiet time for Dom and his gang, punctuated by family barbecues, driving lessons for Brian and a visit from his Abuela (Rita Moreno).
But Dom’s peace is ruined when old enemy Cipher (Charlize Theron) shows up badly injured at his door one night, spinning a story of a new threat called Dante (Jason Momoa). He, it turns out, is the son of Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida), the drug kingpin that Dom and his team robbed and killed 10 years ago in Rio (as chronicled in the events of ‘Fast Five’ in 2011).
(From left) Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) and Han (Sung Kang) in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
Soon, the flamboyant, crazed Dante is setting traps for our heroes, including luring Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Tej (Ludacris), Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) and Han (Sung Kang) on a fake mission to Rome where they and others, including spy agency member Little Nobody (Scott Eastwood) must stop a giant, rolling bomb from destroying parts of Rome and the Vatican.
But when they’re all framed for the attack, the “family” is scattered to various parts of the world as Dante schemes and undermines them, stealing all their money and threatening their own family members.
Soon Dom is locked in a frantic battle with Dante, forced to rely on everyone he loves, even as they’re put in mortal danger. Can he succeed against this powerful villain?
(Right) Brie Larson is Tess in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
To put it bluntly, there are two main advantages to the new ‘Fast’ movie, and the biggest is easily Jason Momoa. Clearly understanding that he A) needs to bring some fun and B) have some fun in the role of the big bad, he’s the most entertaining villain, and possibly the most entertaining character, the franchise has had for a long time.
Extravagantly dressed, free of macho impulses and always ready with a quip, he’s a giant breath of fresh air that nevertheless also feels like a real challenge to Dom and co. Even his mantra of, “Never accept death when suffering is owed,” inherited from his late father (who is glimpsed in an opening blend of footage from ‘Fast Five’ and newly created shots) helps to justify why Dom and company usually tend to escape from their adventures all but unscathed. You might still find yourself shouting, “why don’t you just kill [insert name here]??” at various points, but that’s all part of the fun of the franchise.
And let’s be honest: people “die” in this movie series and have returned before (Han in particular). It’s rarely the end it might be elsewhere.
(From left) Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry, back to camera) and Jakob (John Cena) in ‘Fast X,’ directed Louis Leterrier.
While there were real concerns after ‘F9’ felt like a tired retread of the usual tropes, a sign the movies are running out of gas, ‘Fast X’ actually comes across as a second wind, embracing the set piece silliness and leaning into the entertainment value. Aside from Momoa, it also succeeds by letting Cena embrace his more humorous side since switching sides from being the vengeful villain in the previous entry.
An early briefing for a new character lets the franchise poke proper fun at itself, nodding towards the physics-defying action and globe-trotting story. It’s a canny way to catch up anyone who has decided to make this their first ‘Fast’ movie (though it’s hard to imagine anyone rocking up to these films without having seen at least one other).
Plus, new director Louis Leterrier (who replaced veteran Justin Lin after the latter quit one week into production) is something of a revelation, bringing a combo of his ease with the sort of high-concept action where he started his career (such as ‘The Transporter’) and finding the emotional core these films need to work.
(L to R) Vin Diesel and Director Louis Leterrier on the set of ‘Fast X.’
What are the problems of the movie?
For all its advantages, there are also the usually clunky elements, this entry still boasting scenes that make it seem as though a straight-to-DVD B-movie broke out in the middle of a summer blockbuster.
Actors who have won Oscars struggle with dialogue that would trip any actor up, whole moments sounding like they were written by feeding to suggestions to a ChatGPT AI that was then dropped on its hard drive, so leaden and first base are the results. It’s especially glaring for any scenes set in the mysterious “agency” spy division currently run by Ritchson’s Aimes. The man who is Jack Reacher on TV doesn’t break free of the dodgy lines he’s handed. And even Larson can’t make Tess work beyond some basic motivations.
And Diesel, despite being the core of the film, remains the one who treats it all so completely seriously that it’s actually less fun when he’s growling and putting the pedal to the metal.
(From left) Queen (Helen Mirren) and Dom (Vin Diesel) in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
Even as the movie acknowledges its own ridiculous nature, you’ll end up giggling at how many times the word “family” is uttered as usual, and the number of familial connections between characters is becoming ever more ridiculous. Everyone Dom knows at this point is connected to someone else in the franchise. It’s not hard to imagine him running into someone at the local auto parts store who is a long-lost cousin.
Fortunately, ‘Fast X’ is nimbler than ‘F9’ and papers over some of these typical cracks with gusto .
‘Fast X’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.
Vin Diesel as Dom in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
‘Fast X’ is produced by Neal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel, Justin Lin, Jeff Kirschenbaum and Samantha Vincent. The executive producers are Joseph M. Caracciolo, Jr., David Cain, Chris Morgan, Amanda Lewis and Mark Bomback.
Vin Diesel as Dom in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
Just when you though the ‘Fast & Furious’ team had really, truly finalized plans to wrap the franchise up (while still, of course, leaving the car door open for future spin-offs etc.) with the already-announced 11th entry as a two parter with this week’s ‘Fast X’ along comes star/producer Vin Diesel teasing that there could well be at least one more movie.
Team ‘Fast’ headed to Rome shortly before the weekend for a big press event to promote the movie (which makes sense, since a chunk of the film takes place in the city).
Interviewed by Fandango about a possible future for the franchise, Diesel said this,
“It’s a really good question. As filmmakers, you want to allow people to enjoy the film without tipping the hat too much. I can say this. Going into making this movie, the studio had asked if this could be a two-parter. And after the studio saw this, part one, they said, could you make ‘Fast X’, the finale, a trilogy?”
Diesel and co-star Michelle Rodriguez wouldn’t be drawn on whether it’ll happen for sure, though Diesel did say, “probably”.
You can see the full video here:
WATCH: On the red carpet in Rome, Italy, did Vin Diesel just confirm that #FastX is the first part of a… trilogy?! Whoa! It all begins in theaters a week from today. Ready, set… go get your tickets! 🚘🎟's —> https://t.co/jO68lUJ5h6pic.twitter.com/2DiJsYkgUz
Of course, even though Diesel has an awful lot of say over developments in the ‘Fast’ world, it’s up to Universal whether this actually happens. But we can certainly see the studio happy to keep its most successful franchise motoring.
Our guess –– and this is purely speculation –– is that executives are waiting to see the box office results of ‘Fast X’ before making any final decision.
Jason Momoa is Dante in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
Directed by Louis Leterrier (who replaced Justin Lin) ‘Fast X’ picks up with Dom and his crew as they look to fend off the pair of big bads — the cyberterrorist Cipher (Charlize Theron) and her mysterious cohort, Dante (Jason Momoa), who, it turns out, has a link to another previous franchise antagonist, the drug kingpin Reyes, played in ‘Fast Five’ by Joaquim de Almeida.
Dante, as the trailers for ‘Fast X’ have already revealed, is the son of Reyes, and has spent the time since ‘Fast Five’ plotting his revenge against Dom and co.
Dom and the usual gang will need help of a new friend, Tess (Brie Larson), who has her own connections to a supporting ‘Fast’ character.
And original franchise star Paul Walker’s daughter Meadow will appear in the film in a cameo to “honor” the legacy of her late father, as she revealed on social media last week.
‘Fast X’, as mentioned, is due in theaters on Friday. The 11th film (with Leterrier returning) has yet to announce a release date but is likely headed our way in 2025.
(L to R) Jason Momoa and Vin Diesel star in ‘Fast X.’ Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures.
‘Fast X’ is produced by Universal Pictures, Original Film, One Race, and Perfect Storm Entertainment. It is set to premiere in theaters on May 19th, 2023.
Rita Moreno in the documentary ‘Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It.’
In keeping with how most people find out about anything ‘Fast & Furious’, the most recent – and potentially most exciting – piece of casting news comes courtesy of Vin Diesel’s Instagram.
The enthusiastic actor/producer hit social media with a video announcing that none other than Oscar winner and acting legend Rita Moreno is aboard ‘Fast X’, joining the ever-growing ensemble as Dominic Toretto’s (Diesel) grandmother.
“It’s been my dream forever to work with Rita Moreno, and the fact that she’s here playing my grandmother makes my soul smile,” Diesel says in the video.
“I think my old age was waiting for you to ask me, isn’t that nice, and I’m here, the answer is yes, I’ll do it, and not only I’ll do it, I am tickled,” Moreno responds.
It’s a lovefest! Which is in stark contrast to some of the other videos shot on set of the movie, with uncomfortable-looking co-stars (and former director Justin Lin) appearing to resent having to show up on camera with Diesel.
Casting Moreno represents just the latest addition to the ‘Fast’ team for this new movie, which has already seen the likes of Brie Larson, Jason Momoa, Daniela Melchior and ‘Reacher’s Alan Ritchson making their debut in the franchise.
In addition to the regulars, ‘The Fate of the Furious’ Scott Eastwood (as the government agent codenamed Little Nobody) plus ‘F9’s Michael Rooker (as mechanic/Toretto family friend Buddy) and Cardi B (as paramilitary leader Leysa) are also all back in the fold.
Moreno, of course, needs little introduction. An actor with decades of experience, she’s also known for her singing and dancing skills. She won an Oscar for her performance as Anita in 1961’s ‘West Side Story’, and notched acclaim for appearing in Steven Spielberg’s version of the same movie last year, albeit playing a different role. She’s also an “EGOT” – having won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony. And now she could be up for the MTV Movie Awards as Coolest Granny On Film.
She’s someone Diesel has been trying to get on board for a while now. Interviewed by Variety last year, the actor and Lin discussed the idea of Dom’s mother showing up but pivoted to talk of his grandmother. “Before we get to Mother Toretto, we will get to Abuela,” Diesel says. “And the person that I’m so excited to talk about that role is Rita Moreno.’”
For her part, Moreno seemed up for it at the time. “I’m waiting for his call,” she laughed. “I think it’s a fabulous idea. I hope he puts me in black leather…” Let’s see if that last part comes true!
‘Fast X’ has had to weather some recent drama, with Lin stepping away from the movie, to be replaced by Louis Leterrier. The switch has caused a brief shutdown in production, but the movie is back up and shooting now.
With luck, ‘Fast X’ will still be speeding into theaters on May 19th next year.
‘Fast X’ Logo. Courtesy of Vin Diesel’s Instagram account.
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‘Fast X’ Logo. Courtesy of Vin Diesel’s Instagram account.
Ever the one ready to reveal the slightest hint of ‘Fast & Furious’ news, Vin Diesel has once again taken to Instagram, this time with both title details and word of production cranking into gear of the tenth installment.
So, with a drumroll that somehow also sounds like the revving of a Dodge Charger, the word arrives that the new movie is called… ‘Fast X’.
It’s certainly a striking, short title, but offers little clues as to what the movie itself might be about. And it has, predictably, already fallen afoul of social media jokers, who have likened the title to a pill of some sort.
Not forgetting the camp who would rather the movie have been called ‘Fast 10 Your Seatbelts’.
Shrugging off all such concerns, Diesel simply captioned his logo image with, “Day One…” pointing to the fact that the cameras are now rolling and, if we know anything about this franchise, wheels are already turning. And likely jumping over/off things.
Despite the regular updates from Diesel – AKA family and car-obsessed Dominic Toretto in the movies – nothing has yet been said about the plot for this latest offering of ‘Fast’ fuel.
Given the reportedly returning presence of Charlize Theron’s Cipher, we can reliably predict that Dom and the team will have to thwart her latest nefarious scheme (unless, of course, she’s in the process of switching to Dom’s side, though that seems unlikely for now).
And aiding her this time around will be a new, mysterious baddie brought to booming life by Jason Momoa, who has already expressed his enthusiasm for playing an “amazing” character. “He’s ornery,” Momoa told Entertainment Tonight – when the show caught up with him at the LA premiere of ‘Ambulance’. “He’s misunderstood.” Again, we’re forced to wonder whether he might follow a traditional road of starting out as a villain but ending up helping Dom and the rest.
They’ll be joined by two new faces – at least to this franchise: ‘Captain Marvel’ star and Oscar winner Brie Larson, who chalks up another big franchise and ‘The Suicide Squad’s Daniela Melchior, both of whose characters remain a mystery for now.
Justin Lin, who has directed more of the ‘Fast’ movies than anyone else, is back overseeing this new one and while all involved remain secretive about what we can expect, allow us to speculate that huge vehicular stunts, jokey repartee between Roman and Tej, possibly some dangerous McGuffin to be found/stopped and, of course, more references to “family” than your average Mafia miniseries.
‘Fast X’ will be headed into theaters on May 19th.
Brie Larson as Carol Danvers in 2019’s ‘Captain Marvel.’
When it comes to news about the ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise, it’s often best to skip the usual PR announcements and just head straight to Vin Diesel’s social media feeds. Because the star and producer of the speedy franchise frequently offers up the first information about forward movement. Case in point? Revealing that Brie Larson has joined ‘Fast & Furious 10’.
Posting a smiling picture of himself hanging out with Larson, the man who plays Dominic Toretto remarked in his trademark style about the new addition. “Yeah yeah yeah… you see this angel over my shoulder cracking me up, you say to your self [Sic] ‘that’s captain Marvel’,” Diesel wrote. “Clearly there is love and laughter in this image. What you don’t see however, is the character you will be introduced to in ‘Fast10’. You have no idea how timeless and amazing she will be in our mythology. Beyond her beauty, her intellect… her Oscar, haha is this profound soul who will add something you might not have expected but yearned for.”
Quite what Larson will be doing in the film is anyone’s guess, beyond Diesel’s comment about her being “timeless and amazing” and adding “something you might not have expected but yearned for.” His parting comment of “welcome to the FAMILY” suggests she might be joining Dom’s crew, but there’s always a chance she’ll be on the other side of the equation, helping Charlize Theron’s scheming Cipher. But even if she is, expect a traditional ‘Fast’ switch to Team Dom.
It’s the latest blockbuster move for Oscar winner Larson, who is best known for playing Captain Marvel in her eponymous film and ‘Avengers: Endgame’ (plus her brief credits cameo in ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings‘). She’ll be back in theaters next year for ‘The Marvels,’ which will see her Carol Danvers sharing the screen with Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel (who has her own Disney+ series starting June 8) and Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau, the adult version of the character we met in ‘WandaVision’.
The plot for the movie remains a mystery, but who are we kidding? Few people are looking to the ‘Fast’ franchise for its plot – we go for the massive, physics-mocking vehicular set pieces, banter between the cast, Diesel’s Dominic Toretto growling about “family” at every given opportunity and the wide array of twists and turns.
‘Fast 10’ is planned as the beginning of the end for the franchise, with a May 19, 2023 release date on the books and a follow-up film that will wrap up the story. We’d be shocked if Diesel and co. take their foot off the gas completely after that, though: the ‘Fast’ movies have been too lucrative for that. Expect spin-offs and other ways to keep things moving beyond that.
Directed by Daniel Espinosa (‘Safe House’), the movie stars Jared Leto (‘House of Gucci’) as Dr. Michael Morbius, who suffers from a rare blood disease and experiments with a dangerous cure that afflicts him with a form of vampirism.
The result is a somewhat incoherent film that has no real purpose (other than to set up possible sequels) and feels like it was made in the 1990s. However, as a fan of Marvel, I did find some of the characters and stylized action sequences interesting, but ultimately, it was not enough to make me recommend this movie.
The film begins by introducing us to Dr. Michael Morbius (Leto), who suffers from a rare blood disease and is desperately seeking a cure, which he thinks he has found from studying bats. On the verge of finding a cure oversees, we flashback to Michael’s childhood growing up in a group home where he was raised by Nicholas Morbius (Harris), along with his surrogate brother Milo (Smith), who also suffers from a similar disease. Michael dedicates himself to his studies and vows to one day find a cure and save both himself and Milo.
We then cut back to present day where Morbius and his fiancée Dr. Martine Bancroft (Arjona) decide to experiment with what Michael thinks could be the cure. Michael takes it, but then begins to transform into a vampire. He is not vulnerable to light but does need blood to survive.
After several mysterious deaths where the victims have been drained of their blood, FBI agent Simon Stroud (Gibson) begins to suspect Morbius. Afraid of what he’s becoming, Michael refuses to share the “cure” with Milo, which the latter is not happy about. But, is Michael the real killer? Or is it someone else? Now, Morbius must discover the truth for himself, while protecting Martine and finding a way to stop himself from becoming a monster.
With nods in the film to several different Spider-Man movies from the past, fans weren’t sure what “universe” this movie was going to take place in. Without spoiling anything, I think I can safely say that ‘Morbius’ takes place in the ‘Venom’ universe, which actually makes a lot of sense. The film is aesthetically very similar to ‘Venom,’ and certainly shares the same DNA in addition to the same universe.
Like ‘Venom’ and its sequel, ‘Morbius’ seems like an older movie, something we would have seen in the late 90’s or when Sam Raimi was making his ‘Spider-Man’ movies. It’s rough, crude at times, and doesn’t fit into the slick and fun Marvel movies we expect in 2022, especially after the brilliant ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home.’
Although, there is a connection to the MCU in ‘Morbius,’ that is revealed by a not so secret cameo in the movie’s two end credit scenes. Without giving too much away, I will just say that the scene allows an MCU character to now exist in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. While the explanation doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, even in a world of multiverses, I do appreciate the addition of this legendary actor and his strong character and look forward to whatever new Sinister Six iteration they are clearly planning.
Digging into the problems with the screenplay written by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless, the relationship between Michael and Milo, which is central to the film, needed to be explained better. Yes, they were surrogate brothers and best friends, but there seemed to be something else at the core of their relationship, whether intentional or not. Were they lovers? Is that why Milo seems so jealous of Michael and Martine’s relationship? There was definitely something there, but it never gets explored, which is disappointing. If that is the case, making that clearer would have brought higher stakes to all of Milo’s actions.
Also unclear is what happens to Adria Arjona’s character at the end. I don’t want to give anything away, but let’s just say “something” happens to Martine at the end of the movie that is never explained or visited again. I thought it was being left open for a twist in the final fight sequence, or possibly an end credit scene, but sadly it wasn’t and any questions you have about the character will have to wait for the inevitable sequel.
I also feel that the quick pacing and editing of the film was somewhat sloppy and led to the movie being incoherent. There were too many flashbacks that interrupted the main story and were ultimately only added for exposition and character set up.
But there are some elements of the film that I enjoyed. The superhero aspects of the story worked, even if Morbius was a villain and not a hero in the comics. Jared Leto gives a strong and dedicated performance as Michael Morbius, which is worth watching even if he plays him differently from the source material. Leto’s Morbius cares about human beings and refuses to take a life, which is in stark contrast to how the Spider-Man villain is normally depicted. Director Daniel Espinosa also chose some really cool effects to demonstrate Morbius’ vampire-like abilities.
In the end, Leto’s commanding performance, the character, and the superhero genre are not enough to save ‘Morbius’ from being a disappointing Marvel movie. With a weak script, bad dialogue, silly supporting characters, and lack of strong pacing and tone, ‘Morbius’ is a cinematic mess and the type of movie that only hardcore Marvel fans will understand and enjoy.
The movie stars Jared Leto (‘House of Gucci’) as Dr. Michael Morbius, who suffers from a rare blood disease and experiments with a dangerous cure that afflicts him with a form of vampirism.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jared Leto about his work on ‘Morbius.’
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You can read the full interview with Jared Leto below, or watch a video of our interviews with Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona and director Daniel Espinosa in the player above.
Moviefone: To begin with, how does it feel to know that you are the first actor to ever portray the character of Morbius in a live-action movie or television project?
Jared Leto: It’s pretty exciting and quite an honor, I have to say, to get asked to put this character on the big screen for the very first time. It’s harder and harder to find one of these classic characters that hasn’t been portrayed before, so I jumped at the chance. I also love the fact that there are three transformations that happen in the film, so it’s really kind of three characters in one.
MF: When you read the original source material, what was it about this character that made you want to make this film?
JL: What I really loved is the artwork. Really, it’s interesting because these characters get interpreted and reinterpreted by different artists and writers over the years. From the seventies, I really loved how fantastic it was and detailed. I loved that kind of classic battle between good and evil. There’s a Jekyll and Hyde element here, a man kind of fighting these primal instincts, and it was a lot of fun.
MF: Finally, how challenging, both physically and mentally, was this role for you to play?
JL: It was challenging. I love an immersive experience, and I like to work in a really intense, deep way. I find it to be really rewarding and exciting. In this film, we start off with Dr. Michael Morbius when he’s very sick, frail and fragile. I had a lot to learn there. I worked with people that have rare diseases. I worked with people that have challenges walking, and I was able to study and to learn so much from them. They were very generous with their time and energy.
In turn, I feel like it’s my job to pay tribute to that by working as hard as I can. Certainly, when I was playing that sick, frail doctor, who’s in search of this cure for this rare disease. I spent time on that set. I spent the days working on that and living in that space. It’s exciting. You learn a lot when you do that.
