- Why did you invite a legendary figure like Rita Moreno to be part of โFast Xโ?
Fast & Furious has been fortunate to have a much larger Latin audience than any other film franchise. The world has supported us, and there is always something special when it comes to the Latin audience. Although I grew up and worked in New York, I am a passionate fan of the first Latin actress to win an Academy Award, Rita Moreno.
I met her a few years ago when we both received the Icon Award, and I realized that we had never had the opportunity to work together. To be able to act alongside Rita Moreno would be like a childhood dream coming true.
Iโm not sure if I proposed it to Rita first or if she mentioned it, but the idea quickly formed. Oh my God! Itโs incredibly lucky. But is there a character suitable for such a talented artist who has become an icon of the film industry? We decided to invite Rita to play the role of a very important woman in a model family: Abuelita. Itโs a dream come true for me.
Rita Moreno at a film premiere in Italy. She was born in 1931 and is one of the few artists to have won an Oscar, Emmy, Tony, and Grammy โ the top awards in the fields of film, television, theater, and music in the United States and the world.
- How do you feel about making the final installment of this beloved and epic film franchise?
You can only take this risk when you know that you have gained enough trust from the audience. A quarter of a decade has passed, and itโs time to let the viewers know the conclusion of the journey. Itโs a promise I made to my cast a decade ago, and itโs an incredibly exciting process.
To achieve daring moments like this, we have been working hard for years, but to truly tell the final chapter, the runtime of a single film is not enough.
Vin Diesel is like an icon of the โFast & Furiousโ franchise.
To connect all the storylines, the final installment had to be divided into multiple parts to honor the talented creative team that has become part of this globally successful franchise. Thinking about the ending of a significant journey, like a part of my life, always brings mixed emotions.
- How did the relationship between Dom and Letty develop in this film?
Looking back to the time when the first film was released, I used to read comments saying that although the movie was great, its biggest โfaultโ was not giving enough screen time to the Dom and Letty couple. Oh, how could we have known that a quarter of a decade later, we would still be exploring these two characters, representing the longest-running love story in the history of cinema โ something I am extremely proud of.
Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez at the premiere of โFast Xโ in Rome. The two actors have been companions in the โFast & Furiousโ franchise for many years, playing Dom and Letty.
I recently had a vacation with Michelle, and someone said that we should both be listed in the Guinness World Records for having the longest-lasting love in Hollywood, which I find amusing!
One of the things that make Fast & Furious special and endearing to a large audience is that the relationships on and off-screen are built on love. As I grow older, I understand more deeply the importance of family and brotherhood, and that is largely due to the fantastic work of Michelle Rodriguez.
The role of Dante played by Jason Momoa is considered the best character in โFast Xโ.
- What can you say about the new characters joining this film franchise?
We are very excited to introduce new characters to the Fast & Furious audience, one of whom is Dante Reyes, portrayed by Jason Momoa. Although we are familiar with his face, no one can forget the way he embodies Dante.
One of the things that we are most proud of when making this film series is allowing artists to explore their characters in their own unique way, and what Jason Momoa has done with his character truly fits this tradition.
Therefore, the whole team is thrilled to introduce him to the audience. We needed an actor whose appearance immediately evokes a dangerous and formidable opponent. Itโs challenging to play a character who can conceal great pain and harbor terrifying thoughts like Dante. Jason has achieved that feat, and thatโs what makes the character of Dante so entertaining.
