Fast & Furious fans were sent into a frenzy last week after Vin Diesel shared a social media video that seemed to tease the immediate start of production on Fast Forever (also known as Fast & Furious 11).
Unfortunately, Dom Toretto’s return to the driver’s seat isn’t quite what it appeared to be.
What Was Vin Diesel Really Filming?
In the video, Diesel seems to be in Dominic Toretto mode, standing alongside the character’s 1970 Dodge Charger R/T. “I’m on set. People are grinding. Incredible crews are working,” he said. “Over the past three and a half years we have been grinding to try to make the most amazing finale.“
While the speech screamed Fast Forever, The Wrap has confirmed that Diesel wasn’t filming the final movie. Instead, the footage was part of a World Cup promo that ultimately aired during the USA vs. Belgium match.
The Long, Stalled Road to Fast Forever
The grand finale of the Fast & Furious franchise has faced a bumpy road. Fast X hit theaters in 2023, leaving audiences hanging with a massive cliffhanger. While the ending was designed to lead directly into the eleventh installment, the film’s massive budget and relatively modest box office performance forced Universal Studios to reevaluate how much gas is left in the tank.
Rumours suggest the studio wants to rein in the budget to around $200 million, potentially stripping away the logic-defying stunts of recent entries in favour of a “back-to-basics” throwback to the original 2001 film. However, long-time fans are holding out hope that a scaled-back budget won’t mean ignoring the unresolved plotlines from Fast X.
Will Paul Walker’s Brian O’Conner Return?
Budget adjustments aren’t the only major talking point for the finale. Diesel has heavily teased that Fast Forever will finally bring closure to Brian O’Conner, the character played by the late Paul Walker.
Walker tragically passed away in 2013 midway through the production of Furious 7. To bring Brian back for the finale, the studio would presumably rely on digital effects, with Walker’s brothers, Caleb and Cody, stepping in as body doubles—a technique previously used to finish Furious 7.
Fast Forever is currently slated to hit theaters on March 17, 2028.
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