Fast X
Fast X is a 2023 American action film directed by Louis Leterrier, serving as the tenth main installment in the Fast & Furious franchise created by Gary Scott Thompson.[1][2] The film stars Vin Diesel as Dominic "Dom" Toretto, a former criminal turned family man whose crew is targeted by Dante (Jason Momoa), the vengeful son of drug kingpin Hernan Reyes, whom they killed during a heist in the series' fifth film, Fast Five.[1][3] Released theatrically by Universal Pictures on May 19, 2023, Fast X marks the beginning of the franchise's concluding chapters and grossed $714 million worldwide against a $340 million production budget.[4][2] The plot centers on Dante's elaborate revenge plot, which scatters Dom's family across global locations including Rome and Antarctica, while he specifically endangers Dom's eight-year-old son, Little B.[1] Returning cast members include Michelle Rodriguez as Letty Ortiz, Tyrese Gibson as Roman Pearce, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges as Tej Parker, Nathalie Emmanuel as Ramsey, Jordana Brewster as Mia Toretto, Sung Kang as Han Lue, Jason Statham as Deckard Shaw, John Cena as Jakob Toretto, Scott Eastwood as Little Nobody, Helen Mirren as Magdalene Shaw, and Charlize Theron as Cipher, alongside newcomers like Brie Larson as Tess, Alan Ritchson as Aimes, Daniela Melchior, Rita Moreno, and Leo Abelo Perry as Little B.[1][2] Originally slated for direction by Justin Lin, who had helmed five previous entries and co-wrote the screenplay with Dan Mazeau, Lin departed the project days into filming in April 2022 due to creative differences, remaining on as a producer; Leterrier was brought in to complete the film, rewriting parts of the story and shooting additional scenes.[5][6] The production was overseen by Neal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel, Lin, and Jeff Kirschenbaum, with a budget ballooned by the late directorial switch and extensive visual effects.[1][6] Fast X received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the action sequences and cast chemistry but criticized the convoluted plot and over-the-top elements, earning a 56% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 315 reviews.[3] Audiences were more favorable, with an 84% score from over 5,000 verified ratings, appreciating the high-stakes spectacle and franchise lore.[3] The film opened to $319 million globally and earned $146 million domestically, the seventh-highest in the series but underperforming compared to predecessors like Furious 7.[7][4][8]Story and Characters
Plot
Dom Toretto leads a quiet life in Los Angeles with his wife Letty and their young son Brian, focusing on family barbecues and teaching his son basic driving skills, but this tranquility is shattered when the cyber-terrorist Cipher warns him of an impending threat from Dante Reyes, the son of the drug lord Hernan Reyes killed during the Rio heist a decade earlier.[9][10] Dante, surviving the events of that heist where he was presumed dead after falling from a bridge, emerges as a vengeful antagonist driven by a desire to dismantle Dom's family piece by piece, starting with a rigged mission for the team involving the transport of a supercomputer chip from a convoy to secure their pardon from past crimes.[11][10] The operation in Rome turns deadly when Dante remotely takes control of the transport truck and releases a powerful rolling bomb sphere from it, forcing Dom to use a construction crane to divert the explosive device away from the city, detonating it in the Tiber River at great personal risk while the rest of the team—Roman Pearce, Tej Parker, Ramsey, and Han Lue—escapes underground, only to be branded international terrorists by a shadowy government agency led by the duplicitous Agent Aimes.[9][10] Letty is captured during the chaos and imprisoned in a remote Agency facility in Antarctica alongside Cipher, where they form an uneasy alliance to plot an escape, later aided by the unexpected return of Gisele Yashar, who survived her apparent death in a prior mission.[11][9] Meanwhile, Dom's brother Jakob Toretto takes Brian to a safe house in Portugal, but they are ambushed, prompting Jakob to protect the child fiercely during a high-speed pursuit.[10] As the family scatters globally, Roman, Tej, Ramsey, and Han seek refuge in London, where they enlist the help of Deckard Shaw to safeguard his mother Magdalene after Dante kidnaps her to coerce cooperation, leading to a tense infiltration of Dante's operations amid drained bank accounts and mounting betrayals within the Agency.[9][10] Dom, racing against time, confronts Dante in Brazil, where he saves Isabel Neves—sister of Elena Neves, Dom's former partner and Little B's mother—from a fiery crash during a brutal street race after she is hired by Dante to kill him, highlighting the villain's callousness.[11] The narrative builds to a series of high-stakes rescues, with themes of unwavering family loyalty underscored as Jakob sacrifices himself in an explosive confrontation to shield Brian from Dante's forces, allowing Dom to retrieve his son but leaving the team's plane—carrying Roman, Tej, Ramsey, and Han—shot down by Aimes, who reveals his alliance with Dante.[9][10] In the film's cliffhanger finale set against a Portuguese dam, Dante traps Dom and Brian in a rigged vehicle, detonating explosives that cause the structure to collapse, plunging father and son into the waters below as their survival hangs in the balance, while Letty and Cipher prepare their breakout in Antarctica and Dante consolidates power with Agency backing, setting the stage for further confrontations over the family's endurance.[11][9] This conclusion amplifies the franchise's core motif of family as an unbreakable bond, tested through global perils from Rome's streets to Antarctica's ice and London's shadows, where individual sacrifices reinforce collective resilience against Dante's calculated campaign of terror.[10]Cast
The cast of Fast X features a mix of returning franchise staples and new additions, emphasizing the ensemble "family" dynamic central to the series. Vin Diesel leads as Dominic Toretto, the steadfast leader of the group.[2] Michelle Rodriguez reprises her role as Letty Ortiz, Dom's wife and skilled operative.[12] Tyrese Gibson returns as Roman Pearce, the comic-relief tech expert.[12] Ludacris (Chris "Ludacris" Bridges) plays Tej Parker, the team's gadget specialist.[13] John Cena portrays Jakob Toretto, Dom's estranged brother introduced in prior entries.[12] Jason Momoa stars as Dante Reyes, the primary antagonist driven by a personal vendetta against Dom and his crew; Dante is the son of Hernan Reyes, the drug lord defeated in Fast Five.[14] Charlize Theron returns as Cipher, the cyber-terrorist with ongoing ties to the group's conflicts.[2] Helen Mirren appears as Magdalene "Queenie" Shaw, the matriarch of the Shaw family.[15] Supporting roles include Nathalie Emmanuel as Ramsey, the brilliant hacker; Jordana Brewster as Mia Toretto, Dom's sister; and Sung Kang as Han Lue, the resilient survivor.[13] Jason Statham makes a cameo as Deckard Shaw.[2] New characters expand the Toretto family and introduce fresh dynamics. Brie Larson plays Tess, a rogue operative with mysterious connections.[16] Alan Ritchson portrays Aimes, the ambitious head of a covert agency.[16] Daniela Melchior stars as Isabel Neves, a Brazilian street racer hired by Dante and sister to Elena Neves.[17] Leo Abelo Perry debuts as Brian "Little B" Marcos Toretto, Dom's young son, marking the introduction of a new family member to the core group.[18] Rita Moreno joins as Abuelita Toretto, the wise grandmother figure.[19] The film includes several cameo appearances that nod to the franchise's history. Pete Davidson appears as Bowie, a quirky friend of Ramsey.[20] Brazilian singer Ludmilla has a brief role as a race starter in Rio de Janeiro.[21] Uncredited roles feature Gal Gadot reprising Gisele Yashar, a presumed-deceased ally from earlier films, and Dwayne Johnson as Luke Hobbs in a post-credits tease.[22] Archive footage also includes Paul Walker as Brian O'Conner, Dom's late partner.[21]| Actor | Role | Notes on Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Vin Diesel | Dominic Toretto | Franchise protagonist and family patriarch.[2] |
| Michelle Rodriguez | Letty Ortiz | Dom's partner and key action driver.[12] |
| Tyrese Gibson | Roman Pearce | Provides humor amid high-stakes missions.[12] |
| Ludacris | Tej Parker | Tech-savvy crew member.[13] |
| John Cena | Jakob Toretto | Adds familial tension through brotherhood.[12] |
| Jason Momoa | Dante Reyes | Central villain with revenge motive.[14] |
| Charlize Theron | Cipher | Recurring foe with global reach.[2] |
| Helen Mirren | Magdalene "Queenie" Shaw | Shaw family anchor.[15] |
| Nathalie Emmanuel | Ramsey | Essential for digital warfare.[13] |
| Jordana Brewster | Mia Toretto | Represents domestic family side.[13] |
| Sung Kang | Han Lue | Enduring ally with mysterious past.[13] |
| Brie Larson | Tess | New operative with ambiguous loyalties.[16] |
| Alan Ritchson | Aimes | Agency leader introducing institutional conflict.[16] |
| Daniela Melchior | Isabel | Provides a key family connection as Elena Neves' sister and Little B's aunt.[17] |
| Leo Abelo Perry | Brian "Little B" Marcos Toretto | Young heir symbolizing legacy.[18] |
| Rita Moreno | Abuelita Toretto | Cultural and emotional family elder.[19] |