John Cena Reveals Surprising Reason for His Fast X Character's Sacrifice

Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Fast X.

John Cena, the star of Fast X, has recently revealed the reason behind his character Jakob Toretto's death in the latest installment of the Fast and Furious franchise. Cena, who portrayed the estranged brother of Dom and Mia Toretto, initially played the role of an antagonist working alongside Cipher and Otto. However, after being accepted back into Dom's family, he played a pivotal role in protecting Dom's son Brian in Fast X.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Cena explained why he agreed to Jakob's death by sacrificing himself in Fast X's ending. The actor stated that, for him, the most important thing about the film was making it as good as possible, and he believed that Jakob's death could contribute to that. Below is Cena's full statement:

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"I recall how nervous Louis was, as if his suggestion could trigger a strong reaction from me. However, he failed to understand that my approach to every opportunity is to simply strive to do my best and let the best idea prevail. Unfortunately for Jakob, in the case of Fast X, the best idea entailed his demise."

Jakob dedicates himself to protecting Little Brian from Dante Reyes' constant threats at Fast X. However, when Dante successfully abducts Little Brian, Jakob takes extreme measures to save him. He sets his vehicle ablaze and drives straight into a group of Dante's men and their cars, causing a massive explosion that claims his own life as well as those of his enemies. Dom uses his brother's heroic act to retrieve Little Brian from Dante, ensuring that his nephew is safe.

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Jakob's demise highlights the sheer strength of Dante as an adversary, especially with him still playing the primary antagonist role in the unresolved cliffhanger of Fast X. With Jakob's passing, Dom now has even more motivation to take Dante down in Fast & Furious 11. This event also raises the stakes for every member of Dom's family, including Roman, Tej, Han, and Ramsey, who were all on a plane blown up by Dante at the end of the movie.

Despite the franchise's characters, such as Han or Giselle, having a tendency to survive even the most perilous situations, Jakob's supposed permanent death in Fast X could be overturned with a potential return in a future Fast & Furious film. Regardless of whether Jakob does make a comeback, he made a noble sacrifice for Dom's family in Fast X, setting the groundwork for the next chapter of the Fast Saga.