The actor Vin Diesel, protagonist of Fast & Furious (Fast & Furious 10), highlighted in Rome the "miracle of having shot the tenth chapter of the saga" and boasted of the film team of "Fast X", the penultimate installment of the famous action saga that was presented this Friday in the Italian capital.
"When we went to shoot the movie, from day one and every day on set, we reminded ourselves that it was a miracle to be shooting a tenth chapter of a franchise. I've had incredible moments throughout the saga, especially thanks to the most incredible cast in history," said Diesel.
"Fast X" is the tenth film in the "Fast & Furious" saga, which since the debut in 2001 was confirmed as one of the most profitable in Hollywood, with films, television series and even derivative video games.
Vin Diesel and Meadow Walker at the Roman Colosseum. Photo: AP
"Fast X" takes up part of the plot of the fifth film in the saga to justify the conflict between Toretto and his fearsome adversary and recalls in several "flashbacks" the late Paul Walker, whose death, in a 2013 car accident at age 40, left a great void in subsequent films.
However, at the film's premiere in Rome, he was present through his daughter Meadow Walker, 24, who posed with Vin Diesel on the red carpet.
The 24-year-old model and actress is the daughter of Paul Walker. Photo: AP
Penultimate
This is the penultimate installment of the main plot, as announced by Vin Diesel, its eternal protagonist, who promised that the final end would come with the eleventh film in 2025.
"All we do in this film is invite you to take a walk with us until sunset, it is a saga of 23 years and we are already at the moment of giving a placid goodbye," said actress Michelle Rodriguez, who plays one of the most beloved characters.
Paul Walker, Meadow's father, died in 2013 in a car accident. Photo: AP
However, the fact that the farewell of the saga is approaching has not prevented the addition of stellar signings such as the American Jason Momoa ("Game of Thrones", "Aquaman") and the Puerto Rican Rita Moreno, who, at 91 years old, has made the leap to action cinema as the matriarch of the Toretto family.
Both debutants embody key characters for the plot: Moreno gives life to the grandmother of the protagonist Dominic Toretto -played by Vin Diesel- and Momoa becomes Dante, a dark villain who brings out Toretto's only fear: losing someone he loves.
In addition to Momoa and Moreno, the film adds actress Brie Larson and Portuguese Daniela Melchior to its cast, while familiar faces from the franchise such as Charlize Theron, Helen Mirren, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang and Scott Eastwood continue to be present.
The daughter of Paul Walker and Vin Diesel. Photo: Reuters.
"Coming from Portugal, which is such a small country, I had never dreamed of playing roles like this. When I started making soap operas when I was 17 years old, I did not imagine that one day they would call me to participate in Fast & Furious and have such an incredible life experience," Melchior said.
"Fast X" takes up part of the plot of the fifth film in the saga to justify the conflict between Toretto and his fearsome adversary and recalls in several "flashbacks" the late Paul Walker, whose death, in a 2013 car accident at age 40, left a great void in subsequent films.
The film repeats the usual recipe of the brand: impossible races, adrenaline, testosterone and countless special effects distributed in the most emblematic scenarios of England, Italy, Portugal, Brazil and Antarctica.
The previous installment, titled "F9," grossed more than $700 million, a haul that placed it as one of the highest-grossing Hollywood blockbusters of 2021, even with pandemic restrictions. EFE