A familiar face is returning to the family for one last ride. Ahead of the release ofFast X, the beginning of the end for the long-runningFast and the Furiousfranchise, it was announced that the eleventh film — currently just titledFast and the Furious 11, though a more colorful name is surely in the pipeline — has found its director.Varietyreports thatLouis Leterrier,who tookover directing onFast XfromJustin Linis set to sit in the directors' chair once again as the series races towards its grand finale.
Leterrier took over the role of director onFast Xin May 2022,after Lin departed due to creative differences. The role came with its share of pressure, withFast Xhailed from the outset asthe beginning of the end for the story of Dom Toretto(Vin Diesel) and his found family who take life a quarter mile at a time and always live on the fringes of legal society. What started out as a straightforward racing film featuring street racer Dom, and upstanding cop Brian (Paul Walker), slowly evolved over the course of nine film to be a high-octane action-packed juggernaut thatdefies the laws of gravity and plausibility (in the best way). Needless to say, pressure on Leterrier was high when he took the role forFast X,and will likely now be even higher for him to stick the landing.
There is something to be said for consistency, though. WithFast Xonly the beginning of the finale, Leterrier teased that the film would end on a cliffhanger, with"war brewing" for Dom and his family. Though that teased his involvement in the film in some capacity, the choice to have the director who starts the war also be the one to oversee its end it is a logical one, and promises a satisfying conclusion for fans who have been rooted to their seats since the first film premiered in 2001.
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Will the Whole Family Survive?
With a cast as large as that ofFast X,audiences are right to worry that not everyone will make it out and drive off into that sunset whenFast and the Furious 11eventually arrives in theaters. Leterrier even teased in in the April 2023 issue of Empire Magazine, saying:
“There’s a war brewing. It’s coming to an end and it is a race to the finish. There will be some tremendous casualties. This one is big. I don’t want to oversell it, but what we’re planning on the next one is just gigantic, in terms of action, scope and emotion. You will feel all the feels. Tears will roll.”
Nevertheless, even if we must say goodbye to a few favorites along the way, there is no denying the sheer size and talent of theFast Xcast. The film seesJason Momoajoin the film as the villainous Dante,Brie Larsonas the morally-ambiguous Tess, andRita Morenoas Dom’s grandmother. In addition to Diesel, the film sees early franchise cast membersJordanna Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson,Chris “Ludacris” BridgesandSung Kangall reprise their roles, in addition to later arrivalsJason Statham, Helen Mirren, Charlize Theron, Nathalie Emmanuel, Scott EastwoodandJohn Cena.
Fast Xhits theaters on May 19. you’re able to check out the trailer for the film below:
