Vin Diesel, real name Mark Sinclair, is one of the highest-grossing Hollywood actors having led the highly successful Fast and Furious franchise over the past two decades.
During the recent CinemaCon event in Las Vegas, Diesel announced that the final film in the franchise, titled Fast X, will arrive in two parts. While this is not the first time we will hear of the film’s split into two, with Diesel himself stating as much in 2021, it is the first official announcement.
Speaking at the event, the Guardians of the Galaxy star stated that Fast X’s release this summer is not the end of the franchise and he will return for a sequel in 2025. In his words, "This summer is only the beginning of Fast X. And with all of your effort and with all of your love and the fact that you are a part of our family, Fast X will continue. And after this explosive summer, I will have the privilege of coming to you for Part 2 in 2025."
Diesel appreciated his fellow cast members and thanked the movie theater owners in attendance, as well as the franchise’s fans, for "riding" with him for a "quarter of a century."
Next, Diesel claimed that the Fast and Furious franchise is now the "longest franchise in motion picture history… with the same actors playing the same characters." In what seemed like an extension of the film’s cast where virtually everybody was family to everybody else either via adoption or blood, Diesel referred to the attendees as his family.
He further stated, "And as we were building toward this achievement, we were attracting directors who each brought their own magic to the saga...I’m proud to say for two decades, the Fast films have been the most successful film of every one of our director’s careers. Again — that’s only because of you."
Fast X will see Diesel reprise his role as Dominic Toretto. Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, John Cena, Jason Statham, Sung Kang, Charlize Theron, and Helen Mirren will also reprise their roles from other films in the franchise. New additions to the cast include Jason Momoa, who will play the villain, Rita Moreno, Brie Larson, Alan Ritchson, and Daniela Melchior.
Louis Leterrier, popular for his work on Transporter, Now You See Me, and The Incredible Hulk, will direct Fast X based on a script by Justin Lin and Dan Mazeau. Leterrier will return to direct the final film which Christina Hodson and Oren Uziel will write. Diesel serves as one of Fast X’s producers alongside Lin, Neal H. Moritz, Samantha Vincent, and Jeff Kirschenbaum.
Lin, who directed five installments of the franchise, was originally set to helm the film. However, he exited the role last April amidst reports of a disagreement with Diesel over the film’s script.
Fast X is slated to arrive in theaters across the United States on May 19. Fast and Furious 11 will arrive on a yet-to-be-announced date in 2025.
