The first Fast and Furious flick is the ultimate thrill ride of a movie! It doesn’t shy away from outrageous stunts and action sequences.
From insane car chases to defying physics with ramps and explosions, each F&F film delivers pure entertainment with a focus on spectacle. But what really make the movies shine is the awesome duo of Paul Walker and Vin Diesel.
But, imagine Fast and Furious without Walker’s Brian O’Conner? Believe it or not, it almost happened. As the tenth installment of the high-octane series gears up for release, a surprising detail about the casting of the iconic character has resurfaced.
Eminem Considered for Key Role in Fast and Furious
Fast and Furious is synonymous with Paul Walker‘s Brian O’Conner, and his on-screen brotherhood with Vin Diesel‘s Dom Toretto is a cornerstone of the franchise. But believe it or not, things could have been drastically different.
According to reports from Looper, Eminem was actually a top pick for the role. If he had been chosen, it would’ve shaken up the whole franchise in a big way. His edgy style and persona could’ve given Brian a whole new vibe, making him grittier and streetwise.
However, fate (and a well-timed script) had other plans. It turns out that the 51-year-old decided to put his focus on his own movie project instead, which resulted in the super successful 8 Mile. This semi-autobiographical drama allowed the Detroit native to showcase his acting chops.
Eminem Also Declined Offer to Create Tribute Song for Fast & Furious 7
The Fast and Furious team didn’t completely let go of the idea of involving Eminem. According to reports from Fuse, they actually asked him to make a song for the heartfelt tribute to Paul Walker in Fast & Furious 7. That song turned out to be See You Again, which has become a total classic.
Again, scheduling conflicts played a role. Slim Shady reportedly declined due to concerns about having two movie soundtracks competing for attention at the same time. This ultimately paved the way for Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth‘s See You Again — a song that perfectly captured the film’s sentiment.
While it’s fun to imagine Eminem’s take on Brian O’Conner or an alternate See You Again, it’s hard to argue with the success of the Fast and Furious as we know it.
This whole idea also shows how small decisions in Hollywood can have such a big impact. The Fast and Furious movies wouldn’t have been the same without Walker, as his portrayal of Brian O’Conner remains irreplaceable.
Watch Fast and Furious on Amazon Prime Video.
