Exclusive: Is Vin Diesel's 3-Part Finale Just a Smoke Screen?
Will Vin Diesel's claims of a 3-part finale for Fast & Furious 12 hold true? Uncertainty looms over the future of the franchise
Summary
Director Louis Leterrier questions Vin Diesel's assertion that Fast X marks the first installment of a concluding trilogy, hinting that the actor might have embellished his statement as a means to exit a press event.
Leterrier stresses that although a trilogy could be an option, no definitive choices have been made concerning the franchise's future.
Leterrier emphasizes the significance of approaching each film individually, implying that Universal might be waiting to gauge the success of Dwayne Johnson's solo Fast & Furious project before approving another movie.
Fast X director Louis Leterrier has disputed Vin Diesel's comments about the film being part of a concluding trilogy. The latest Fast & Furious installment features Diesel's character, Dominic Toretto, and his team facing off against a new antagonist portrayed by Jason Momoa. Initially, Fast X was believed to be the second-to-last movie in the franchise, but Diesel hinted that a twelfth film could be in the works. Leterrier, in a recent interview with GamesRadar, acknowledges the potential for Fast & Furious 11 to be part of a trilogy, but emphasizes that no final decisions have been made.
Vin is known for his ability to say anything to escape from a press line. I can relate because I often find myself doing the same, jokingly promising to go to the moon in the next film. It's funny how those memorable moments stick with you.
Of course, the next film is already on its way, but we're taking it one step at a time. Hollywood constantly reminds us to approach things gradually, putting one foot forward at a time. We should appreciate the blessings we have. We were fortunate that this movie was well-received and loved by the audience, who watched it in theaters and will soon enjoy it from the comfort of their homes. It's all about taking things one by one.
Will Fast & Furious 12 Actually Happen?
Maybe his point was that the elapsed time of 25 years, along with the intricacies of filmmaking and storytelling, comprising three acts across two hours and two movies, may not suffice to adequately narrate the essential story. Currently, we are in the process of unravelling this.
During Fast X's premiere in Rome, Diesel revealed to a reporter that the studio had proposed turning Fast X into a trilogy after seeing part one. This seemed to imply that Fast & Furious 12 could serve as the franchise's finale. While Leterrier's recent clarification suggests it is not yet a done deal, it remains a possibility. It appears Universal is carefully considering the financials before committing to additional movies.
Dwayne Johnson's Luke Hobbs will have his own standalone film, which is believed to set the stage for Fast & Furious 11. The studio may wait to assess the success of Johnson's movie before giving the green light to Fast & Furious 12. The box office performance of Fast X, although not catastrophic, does not meet Universal's high expectations given its large budget. Particularly, the film's reception domestically has been underwhelming.
Universal will also consider Fast X's digital sales, as strong performance on home viewing platforms could compensate for its weaker box office performance. Although the Fast & Furious franchise remains popular internationally, average reviews and domestic response to Fast X indicate the potential for franchise fatigue in the future. If both Fast & Furious 11 and 12 are made, it is evident that Universal will need to find ways to significantly reduce the budgets for these movies.
Source: GamesRadar
