From Racing to Espionage: The Epic Evolution of Fast & Furious
The end of an era is approaching as the Fast & Furious franchise draws to a close Join us as we take a journey through the evolution of this iconic series
Alan Ritchson, who plays Aimes in Fast X, recently revealed on The Rich Eisen Show that he had never seen any of the Fast & Furious movies before joining the franchise. He recounted how he shared this information with Vin Diesel, who was gracious in their encounter, but Ritchson admits he now feels like he shouldn't have said that to the veteran actor. Ritchson is also known for his role as Jack Reacher in Prime Video's Reacher series.
How Fast & Furious Has Evolved Over Time
: When I was offered the role in the Fast and Furious franchise, I had to confess to Vin Diesel that I hadn't seen any of the previous movies. However, I made sure to watch them all before starting on the project and was impressed with what Vin had accomplished over the past two decades. When I expressed my admiration, he was grateful and appreciative. It made me realize how important this franchise was to him as it had been a major part of his life for so long. I couldn't imagine someone not taking the time to understand and appreciate something that had become such a significant fixture in their life.
Although Ritchson had knowledge of the 2001 film, The Fast and the Furious, it wouldn't have been enough to prepare him for the franchise's current state. The series has undergone a significant transformation from a grounded storyline centered around Paul Walker's Brian O'Conner and Diesel's Dom Toretto, to high-octane heists and rescue missions. In fact, one of the most extreme moments in the franchise was when Tyreese Gibson's Roman and Ludacris' Tej ventured into space in F9.
The franchise's emphasis on Dom's expanding family has taken center stage, highlighting the significance of the crew's strong bond. Unlike earlier installments such as 2 Fast 2 Furious and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, which did not center around Dom, later films interwove his crew's storylines. This creates a more impactful finale in Fast X. Nonetheless, Fast X is only the first of the final entries in the Fast & Furious franchise, promising more thrilling action sequences to come. Following a cliffhanger ending in Fast X, Ritchson is expected to reprise his role as Aimes. Despite having no prior exposure to the franchise, Ritchson's appreciation for it is evident and will likely be reflected in future films.
Source: The Rich Eisen Show
