Back in May at the world premiere of “Fast X” in Rome, series star Vin Diesel teased the possibility of yet another film in the franchise beyond the already announced eleventh.
“Fast X” was lined as the first part of a two-part finale to the main franchise, and was even marketed as the “beginning of the end of the saga”. Then Diesel told the trades the studio had apparently asked for a three-part finale after seeing “Fast X,” rather than the previously set two-parter.
Plans seemed to get shaken up again when it was revealed a “Hobbs & Reyes” spin-off was in the works that would bridge the gap between “Fast X” and “Fast X: Part Two”.
Now, “Fast X” director Louis Leterrier recently spoke with GamesRadar ahead of the film’s disc release and responded to Diesel’s claims. He indicated the actor is exaggerating but adding that nothing has been decided just yet with the strikes having halted everything:
“The one thing about Vin is like when he’s on a press line, he will say anything to get out of that press line. And I’m kind of like him and go, ‘Yeah, sure, we will go to the moon in the next one. Bye.’ And then you never forget!
Obviously the next one is coming, and then yeah, one movie at a time. I think the one thing that Hollywood keeps reminding us is that it’s one step at a time, put one foot forward at a time.
Let’s count our blessings. We’re very lucky this movie was well-received and well-loved, people went to see it in a movie theater and now they’re going to see it at home. It’s one at a time.
I mean maybe what he was saying is that there’s 25 years of filmmaking and storytelling, three acts, two hours and two movies, between the last one and this one, might not be enough to tell the story that is needed, and that’s what we’re figuring out these days.”
The comments would suggest Universal is likely looking at the economics before changing up any plans. The most recent film took in $719.1 million off a $340 million budget – which were not the kind of numbers Universal was hoping for. On the domestic front especially, box-office was decidedly underwhelming.
