Fast and Furious Producers Reveal Shocking Revelation That Transformed Their Lives Forever
Fast and Furious 9 set accident in 2019 leads to a significant legal admission by producers and the studio, following a life-altering incident involving a courageous stunt performer
The release of the 10th installment of the Fast and Furious franchise earlier this year was met with criticism for its unrealistic action sequences. However, the film brought more than just disapproval of its narrative style. Dominic Toretto and his family brought along a "life-changing" controversy from 2019 that has finally been resolved.
Titled F9, the ninth installment of Fast and Furious was previously released in 2021, continuing Toretto's journey to protect his community from a world-altering threat. Unfortunately, the production was marred by an incident that occurred on set almost four years ago. Joe Watts, a stunt performer known for his work in projects like Pokémon: Detective Pikachu and Solo: A Star Wars Story, was rehearsing a stunt on the F9 set in 2019. During the rehearsal, Watts was thrown over a balcony while standing in for Vin Diesel, resulting in a 20-foot fall onto a concrete floor. This tragic accident led to Watts suffering a fractured skull, traumatic brain injury, psychiatric injury, and shoulder damage.
Watts took legal action against FF9 Pictures Limited, a subsidiary of Universal Pictures in the UK, seeking $1.2 million in damages last year. He informed Variety that during the four years following the incident, he has been focused on rebuilding his life, even though he acknowledges that he will never be able to perform again. FF9 had not publicly addressed the issue until recently, when they acknowledged their responsibility for the accident on set. In their defense statement, the studio admitted that the accident occurred due to negligence on the part of FF9 Pictures Limited, its employees, or representatives. They further clarified that they do not hold Watts accountable for the incident and are willing to provide him with any compensation deemed appropriate by the court or agreed upon by both parties.
The parties involved will now proceed to negotiate compensation for Watts, taking into account the agreed outcome of the incident. The Fast and Furious franchise is nearing its end, with the eleventh installment scheduled for release on April 4, 2025. However, there are plans for a spinoff film featuring Dwayne Johnson's Luke Hobbs, which will serve as a connecting link between the last two films in the series.
Fast and Furious 10 is available on digital platforms.
Source: Variety
