Latest news with #DominicToretto
Auto Car
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
The Fast and Furious films are anything but serious - but they have done a lot for car culture
No, The Fast and the Furious films are objectively not very good. But I doubt that even the greats can claim to have had anywhere near as much of an impact on their subject matter. The Shawshank Redemption didn't result in wide-reaching prison reform and it has been largely forgotten that Star Wars was intended as an allegory for the Vietnam war. But would Toyota have reprised the Supra were it not for the original Fast and Furious film propelling it into the limelight? And would the original Dodge Charger be commanding such outrageous premiums today were it not for antihero Dominic Toretto's boast of his having 'so much torque, the chassis twisted off the line'? I'm quite unsure any of it would have happened were it not for these films' celebration of a certain car culture. The cars that feature in them – the first five films, at the very least – are protagonists in the same sense as the human characters, with distinct personalities and sub-stories. If any scene encapsulates the franchise's reverence for its four-wheeled cast members, it first film's duel between the freshly rebuilt Toyota Supra and a stunning Ferrari F355 Spider. It begins with friendly banter at a traffic light: hero Brian O'Connor, driving the Toyota, asks how much the Ferrari costs. Its driver outs himself as an arse, replying 'more than you can afford, pal', in that condescending tone reserved only for the worst kind of new-money moron. Toretto gives the order: 'Smoke him.' A dodgem ride of a duel ensues, the nuclear-orange Supra scything through traffic while angsty rock music blares in the background. It will raise a hair on even the most car-agnostic viewer, and the layman with no car knowledge can still revel in the underdog's decisive victory. It all served to legitimise an arm of car culture that was mocked and belittled for years. More broadly, it validated the notion that you can derive fun from the act of driving.
Top Gear
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Top Gear
Fast X: Part 2 will apparently reunite Dominic Toretto and... Brian O'Conner. Wait, what?
Fast X: Part 2 will apparently reunite Dominic Toretto and... Brian O'Conner. Wait, what? It will also see the series return to Los Angeles and its street racing roots Skip 6 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 6 Vin Diesel has confirmed a few key details for what we can expect in Fast X: Part 2, the final chapter in the long-running and sometimes incomphrensible Fast and Furious saga, with the most crucial being an on-screen return for Brian O'Conner (played by the late Paul Walker). The beloved cop-turned-racer had a starring role in five of the first six instalments, before his passing during the production of the seventh. Walker is believed to have completed 85 per cent of his scenes in that movie, with his brothers, Caleb and Cody, stepping in for the remainder as CGI stand-ins. Advertisement - Page continues below Walker was given a heartfelt tribute at the end of Furious 7, and though his character has been referenced on multiple occasions in the three movies since, the decision to bring him back to the fold could prove to be a divisive one. Also... how, exactly? Diesel confirmed the franchise was also heading back to its spiritual home of Los Angeles, where the very first movie was set, while promising a return to the street racing theme that made the series such a hit. Whether the production team decides to go full '90s, with deep house music and time-warping nitrous oxide scenes, is yet to be seen. A return to LA makes the previous movie's cliffhanger ending somewhat tricky: Toretto staring at a soon-to-collapse dam, his team's plane being taken down and the post-credit return of Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson). So, once more... how, exactly? Fast X: Part 2 was originally set for release in early 2026, but production delays have now pushed the launch date back to April 2027. Reckon Diesel's revelations are going to make it worth the wait? Advertisement - Page continues below Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
ArabGT
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- ArabGT
Fast & Furious Bids Farewell with the Return of Paul Walker
More than a decade after the tragic loss of Paul Walker in 2013, the beloved actor will once again grace the screen in the final chapter of the Fast & Furious saga. Fans of the franchise are about to witness a historic moment, as Universal prepares to bring closure to one of cinema's most enduring action legacies. According to star Vin Diesel, the eleventh installment won't just wrap up the story of Dominic Toretto and his crew—it will serve as a reunion for the entire Fast family, including Brian O'Conner, the character made iconic by Walker. Through a heartfelt and carefully crafted approach, Brian's return will mark a poignant turning point in the franchise's long history. To achieve this, the filmmakers have chosen a sophisticated method that steers clear of digital recreations or virtual simulations. Instead, the return of Brian will be made possible by integrating unseen archival footage into newly filmed scenes, edited in a way that allows for seamless interaction with the ongoing storyline. This respectful technique ensures that Walker's presence is honored authentically, while preserving the emotional weight his character carries. It also restores the sense of grounded storytelling and emotional depth that many fans felt had been diluted in recent films. Vin Diesel has emphasized that this final chapter is meant to reunite the core characters who shaped the heart of the franchise. Dom and Letty, Roman and Tej, Mia and her children—all will be brought together on screen, alongside Brian, for a farewell that feels both nostalgic and genuine. This return to form re-centers the narrative on the values that made the series resonate from the beginning: loyalty, family, and connection. In another nod to its roots, Fast & Furious 11 will revive the gritty street racing culture that defined its earliest entries. The film is set to feature authentic racing sequences shot on the streets of Los Angeles using legendary vehicles such as the Dodge Charger and Toyota Supra. The production aims to limit the use of CGI, focusing instead on realism and physical action that reflect the franchise's original tone. This shift is designed to recapture the raw energy that captivated fans in the early 2000s and distinguish the final film as a return to authenticity. The release of the eleventh film is currently scheduled for April 2027, with an official teaser expected to drop soon on YouTube. Production is projected to take between eighteen months and two years, reflecting the ambition and care behind this grand finale. It's clear that the team behind Fast & Furious wants to ensure that the story concludes with both spectacle and soul. This final installment represents more than just the end of an era—it's a carefully orchestrated tribute to the series' history, its characters, and most importantly, its fans. The return of Brian O'Conner after a decade, the full cast reunion, the revival of street racing culture, and the respectful approach to Paul Walker's legacy all combine to create a cinematic moment that is both powerful and emotionally resonant. It's not just a farewell; it's a celebration of everything the franchise has meant to millions around the world. For those who have been along for the ride since the beginning, Fast & Furious 11 promises to be the defining moment they've waited for since 2001—a final ride that brings the family full circle.
Geek Culture
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
Vin Diesel To Reunite Dom & Late Paul Walker's Brian In 'Fast & Furious' Finale Film
Vin Diesel has stunned audiences with the announcement that Brian O'Conner, the character played by the late Paul Walker, will return to the Fast & Furious franchise for its upcoming finale, Fast X: Part 2 . Fast Five (2011) Announced at FuelFest 2025 in Los Angeles, the action movie star made a surprise appearance to inform fans that he was bringing the franchise back to LA, with the movie now returning to the series' street racing roots. These were just two of the three non-negotiables Diesel raised in discussions with Universal Pictures executives for the final instalment's tentative release window in April 2027. Diesel then cryptically remarked that the final condition was the reunion between Brian O'Conner and his character, Dominic Toretto, drawing raucous cheers from the audience. Despite this, the announcement was met with mixed reactions from fans, with some excited for the return of the fan-favourite character, while others denounced the return of O'Conner given Walker's poignant send-off back in 2015's Furious 7 due to the actor's untimely demise in 2013. Furious 7 (2015) With no further news on how O'Conner could be returning to the silver screen, the feasibility of his resurrection remains to be seen. Furious 7 utilised CGI and Walker's brothers, Caleb and Cody, as physical stand-ins, while 2023's Fast X used actual footage of Walker as O'Conner during a flashback. Meanwhile, with mentions of O'Conner living out his family life in the Fast & Furious universe, even being seen pulling into the Toretto's driveway in his signature 1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R in 2021's F9 , the production team has clearly demonstrated the willingness to leave the door ajar for the character's inclusion. Furthermore, film director Louis Leterrier also stated during an interview with TotalFilm that 'the Walker family is still very much a part of this franchise… It just has to be the right moment, the right tone.' With much uncertainty on how they will bring back O'Conner, and in what capacity, fans can only wait and see how things will rev up when Fast X: Part 2 hits the road in April 2027. Conversation with Ting Wei is like chatting with a weird AI bot programmed only with One Piece lore and theories, sitcom quotes and other miscellaneous pop culture references. When he's not sleeping, he's most likely reading manga. In fact, the only thing he reads more than manga is probably the Bible, and it's honestly pretty close. Brian O'Conner Fast & Furious Fast X Part 2 paul walker Vin Diesel
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Vin Diesel says Paul Walker's Brian O'Conner could return in 'Fast & Furious 11'
Vin Diesel says the planned finale of the long-running "Fast & Furious" franchise will come with an unexpected passenger. Speaking at Fuel Fest, an automotive event in Pomona over the weekend, Diesel told fans that the final 'Fast & Furious' film will bring back one of the series' most beloved characters: Paul Walker's Brian O'Conner. The longtime on-screen partner to Diesel's Dominic Toretto, O'Conner last appeared in 2015's "Furious 7," which was completed after Walker's death in a car accident in 2013 at age 40. The franchise — known for its blend of street racing, elaborate heists and outsized action — has grown into one of the most successful of all time, with more than $7 billion at the global box office. "Just yesterday I was with Universal Studios," Diesel said in a video from the event. "The studio said to me, 'Vin, can we please have the finale of 'Fast & Furious' [in] April 2027?' I said, 'Under three conditions' — because I've been listening to my fanbase." Read more: Brad Pitt and 'F1 The Movie' zoom to $55.6 million in Apple's biggest box office debut Those conditions, he said, were to bring the franchise back to L.A., return to its street-racing roots and reunite Dom and Brian. "That is what you're going to get in the finale," Diesel promised. How the production might accomplish that reunion remains unclear. When Walker died during the making of "Furious 7," the filmmakers turned to a mix of archived footage, digital effects and performances by Walker's brothers, Caleb and Cody, who served as stand-ins for unfinished scenes. Artists at Weta Digital created more than 300 visual-effects shots to map Walker's likeness onto his brothers' bodies, often piecing together dialogue from existing recordings. The film's farewell — showing Brian and Dom driving side by side before splitting onto separate roads — became one of the franchise's most memorable and emotional moments, widely seen as a tribute to Walker's legacy. A return for Brian O'Conner would join a growing list of posthumous digital performances in major franchises — a practice that continues to stir debate over where the line should be drawn. In 2016's "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," Peter Cushing's Grand Moff Tarkin was recreated through a mix of motion capture, CGI and archival material, decades after Cushing's death. In 2019, "The Rise of Skywalker" relied on previously unused footage and digital stitching to return Carrie Fisher's Leia to the screen three years after the actress' passing. And in last year's "Alien: Romulus," the late Ian Holm's likeness was recreated as an android using AI and digital effects, with the approval of his estate — a choice that sparked controversy and led to more practical effects being used in the film's home release. Sign up for Indie Focus, a weekly newsletter about movies and what's going on in the wild world of cinema. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
