Fast X Director's Emotional Reaction to Unseen Paul Walker Footage

Fast X director Louis Leterrier was left in awe when he stumbled upon unseen footage of Paul Walker from Fast Five. This footage was used by Leterrier to create the opening flashback scene for the latest sequel. Fast X serves as the tenth installment in the Fast & Furious franchise's central Fast Saga, where Vin Diesel and his crew are pitted against a new and dangerous villain, portrayed by Jason Momoa as Dante. It is revealed that Dante is the son of Hernan Reyes, the main antagonist of the 2011's Fast Five.

During a recent interview with Insider, director Leterrier discussed his approach to constructing the opening flashback sequence in Fast Five. He explains that retelling the climax from a new perspective involved sifting through unused footage from the original movie, including scenes featuring Vin Diesel and the late Paul Walker. To achieve the desired effect, Leterrier reshot some scenes on 35-millimeter with the same cameras and examined all the dailies from the archives. The result was a reinterpretation of the chase through Reyes' point of view, casting Dom and Brian as the villains in the story's early stages.

"That was an exhilarating experience. It was also an incredibly emotional one, as I sat down to watch the dailies with a young Vin and young Paul, who were portraying Brian and Dom respectively, between 'action and cut.' Witnessing their interactions as friends before and after the scenes was truly amazing and deeply moving."

Fast Five is considered a turning point in the Fast & Furious franchise, directed by Justin Lin. The film strikes a perfect balance between the earlier street racing scenes and the over-the-top action sequences that became synonymous with the latter installments. With the release of Fast X on the horizon, it has been hinted that the upcoming sequel will maintain the connection to Fast Five through Momoa's character while returning to a more grounded style of action.

Fast Five is widely regarded as one of the top entries in the franchise, and for good reason. The flashbacks and Dante's heritage provide a satisfying conclusion to Dom's story arc. In contrast, Fast X emphasizes that Dom's choices can have repercussions. However, the connection to Fast Five serves as a double-edged sword, highlighting the latter's superiority in both storytelling and action.

Fast Five outshines its successors due to its more grounded action and streamlined storytelling. The movie's smaller scale allows for a more compelling and focused narrative. Additionally, the dynamic between Diesel and Walker adds an extra layer of depth. While the franchise may be past its prime, Fast X's ties to Fast Five prevent it from being a total letdown.

Source: Insider