!! Spoiler Warning: The following content includes spoilers of Fast X!!
The latest installment in the Fast and Furious franchise, Fast X, was released this week in theatres and has received mixed reactions from critics. While some described it as “merely loud and dumb,” others have said decent things about it, adding that they would be waiting for the next two films, which are expected to be the franchise’s final act. Some critics also praised Jason Momoa as the antagonist Dante Reyes over Vin Diesel, who has been the face of the franchise for years.
However, as Fast and Furious set the plot for the action-adventure franchise’s final act some characters might not be able to continue their journey in the upcoming films. And it starts with the loss of one of the major characters in Fast X, and director Louis Leterrier claimed that it was his idea to end this character’s journey in the 2023 film.
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Louis Leterrier Planned the Shocking Death in Fast X
Fast X introduces Jason Momoa as Dante Reyes, the son of the deceased businessman Hernan Reyes, who seeks revenge on Dom and his crew. The film, however, seemingly becomes John Cena’s last film in the franchise, as his character Jakob dies in the final act of the movie.
Cena was introduced as the younger brother of Dom in F9. In the latest installment in the franchise, his character dies while trying to save Dom and Little Brian by crashing into the group of cars chasing after them.
Director of the film Louis Leterrier shared during his recent interview with Entertainment Weekly that it was his idea, and he planned it from the beginning. “That was my idea. That’s one of the things I came up with early on,” he said.
The director also shared that Jakob is a lot different than F9 and feels loved by Little Brian. “He felt the love when Little B hugs him and says, ‘I love you, Uncle Jakob,'” he said. However, when he shared the idea of ending his journey as Jakob Toretto, John Cena was not very pleased with it.
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John Cena Was Upset About the Director’s Idea
The death of Jakob can be considered a significant factor for subsequent films in the franchise. His death not only signifies his character development from his last appearance in F9, but it also denotes to threat that Dominic Toretto’s family would be dealing with in the upcoming films as well.
And John Cena was not very happy after learning about his character’s fate in Fast X. Louis Leterrier shared that as he told him that Jakob would have to sacrifice himself for his brother and his son, “it upset him.” He shared, “I pitched him between two takes as I’m over there resetting the camera.”
Although he was upset, the Peacemaker star loved the plot. The director also claimed that Cena gave an incredible performance during the sequence. “I’m going to give so much love, so then the sacrifice really hurts.’ And it really does hurt,” he said.
Fast X is playing in theatres now.
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Source: Entertainment Weekly
