Universal has unveiled the first trailer for Fast X — the penultimate installment in its long-running action franchise Fast & Furious, which is slated for release in theaters on May 19.
The new film picks up with globe-trotting street racer Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew, as they look to fend off the pair of big bads that are out for them — the cyberterrorist Cipher (Charlize Theron) and her mysterious cohort, Dante (Jason Momoa) — with the help of a new friend named Tess (Brie Larson).
The Fast X trailer makes it clear that this installment, like all those in the franchise, will be about family, as Dominic reflects on his fear of losing someone he loves.
That someone, it turns out, is his young son Brian (Leo Abelo Perry), who is kidnapped when the motorcycle-riding Dante makes his way into town. While the new character’s backstory isn’t yet entirely evident, it appears anchored in Fast & Furious mythology, dating back to Paul Walker’s days leading the franchise alongside Diesel, as Dante talks about the bone he has to pick with Dom and his crew.
“Dominic Toretto. You’re about to learn all about fear,” says Dante. “You built such a beautiful life filled with love and family. I never got that chance. You stole that from me — my future, my family. And now, I’m going to break yours. Piece by piece.”
The trailer also introduces us to Dominic’s grandmother, played by Rita Moreno, as well as his new ally, Tess. Among those showing up here who were less expected to do so are John Cena, who reprises his role as Dominic’s brother, Jakob, and Jason Statham, who’s back as mercenary Deckard Shaw.
While the bad blood between Dante and Dominic is at the heart of the trailer, its last seconds find Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) awakening in some kind of medical facility, with Cipher there to greet her. “Good morning, sunshine,” says Cipher before the pair engage in combat.
The Fast & Furious franchise — pitting street racers and spies against assorted criminal elements — launched with 2001’s The Fast and the Furious, with its films thus far collectively grossing over $6 billion worldwide.
The new installment’s debut trailer was first unveiled to the press at an event on LA Live’s Event Deck on Thursday evening, which had Diesel in attendance. Others making appearances alongside host Maria Menounos included cast members Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, director Louis Leterrier, and producers Jeff Kirschenbaum and Samantha Vincent.
Diesel told fans at last night’s gathering that the new film will give them what they’ve long been asking for. “We have always heard you. You wanted to go back to the streets of L.A. You wanted to return to racing and what that feels like. You wanted to return to the cars that made this franchise what it is,” he said. “The support you’ve given us, you’ve allowed us to be your family, and we take a lot of pride in that.”
The evening was short on revelations outside of the debut of the trailer itself, with Diesel and family mostly reminiscing on their history with the franchise, and expressing their disbelief that it’s still in motion after more than two decades.
“I want you guys to know, there are so many movies and TV shows going on around the world, the fact that y’all are continuing to show up for us, you don’t even understand how much it means to us,” said Gibson “[People talk about] box office. This is bigger than that.”
“You truly are — and I mean this from my soul — the best fans any cinematic saga could ever dream of,” added Diesel.
Fast X also stars Alan Ritchson, Nathalie Emmanuel, Michael Rooker, Helen Mirren, Daniela Melchior, Jordana Brewster, Cardi B and Scott Eastwood. Justin Lin and Dan Mazeau wrote the script, with Diesel, Lin, Kirschenbaum, Vincent and Neal Moritz serving as producers.
Universal most recently released M. Night Shyamalan’s apocalyptic horror Knock at the Cabin, which managed to knock Avatar: The Way of Water off its No. 1 box-office perch upon its February 3 debut. The studio has had a strong start to 2023, between that title and the horror hit M3GAN from Blumhouse and Atomic Monster, which has grossed over $160MM and spawned a sequel due for release in 2025.
Titles up for release by Uni prior to Fast X include Elizabeth Banks’ Cocaine Bear (February 24), The Super Mario Bros. Movie (April 7), and the horror-comedy Renfield (April 14) that has Nicolas Cage playing Count Dracula, with Nicolas Hoult as his reluctant servant.
Watch the new trailer for Fast X by clicking above.
