Fast X director Louis Leterrier responds to Vin Diesel’s claims that Fast & Furious 11 may not actually be the end of the franchise after all. After the franchise first got its start back in 2001, the Fast Saga is now gearing up for the beginning of the end with Fast X. The film was previously announced to serve as the first part of a two-part conclusion, but recent comments from Diesel suggest this may no longer be the case.
Following Diesel’s claims that Universal Pictures wants Fast & Furious 12to end the saga as the third movie in the trilogy, Leterrier now weighs in on the future of the franchise in a new interview with EW. The director is more cautious in his response regarding whether Fast & Furious 11 is the last one, suggesting that it depends on how Fast X does at the box office. Check out Leterrier’s full comment below:
“Let’s see what this one does. You know what’s beautiful about this franchise is that the audience gave the love and then the franchise kept growing and delivered for the fans, but also surprised them. Don’t shove it down people’s throats, but give people what they love. So let’s see [what happens next].
“I mean, who knows? Two years ago we didn’t think that movies would ever exist anymore. Knock on wood, count my lucky stars that we’re making giant movies that now are being seen by millions of people around the globe. It’s amazing, and I’m so happy that we’re part of this summer where it feels like the excitement for movies is back.
“I know where the franchise ends and I know where the problems are in the 25 years of consequences that led up to that moment. But there are many ways to get there. Many roads will lead us to the end.”
Related: Fast & Furious 11 Already Faces A Big Franchise Ending Challenge
The Fast & Furious franchise has been a major money-maker for Universal, but now, more than 20 years after the first film, it definitely feels like now is the time to bring things to a close. The franchise has evolved far beyond the street racing-centric stories of the first few films and now deals in city-wide destruction and end-of-the-world stakes, with Diesel’s Dom now closer to an invincible superhero than anything resembling a real human being.
Plus, the Fast X reviews, while somewhat mixed, see many critics suggest that the franchise has now lost its magic. Not only does Fast X steer directly into the ridiculousness of the last few installments, but critics mostly agree that it’s short on any emotionally resonant or meaningful storytelling. By dragging out the finale even further into a trilogy, the series risks overstaying its welcome and going out on a low note.
Fast & Furious 12 is also a risk financially. Fast X‘s box office is projected to be the franchise’s best since 2017, but the film was alarmingly expensive to make at an estimated $340 million, largely due to its massive cast. If Universal Pictures overestimates audience interest and gives Fast & Furious 12 the green light with a similar budget, the studio is taking a major gamble that audience interest won’t wane in the next five years. It’s likely that the franchise’s future will be made more clear after the dust has settled following Fast X‘s release.
Source: EW