“I remember once we started getting closer to production, [director] Justin [Lin] and I would talk about how harrowing it would be to actually cast a new Toretto, the brother of Toretto,” Diesel said during a recent “F9” press conference, according to ComicBook.com. “There’s so many different directions you could go.”
Diesel continued, “And I remember John Cena coming into this Dom Shrine that I had where I would kind of go to meditate and train and start getting into that Dom state of mind. And I remember John coming in and… call this crazy, but I remember feeling as though Pablo, Paul Walker, had sent him in.” He added, “I remember talking to Justin that night and saying, ‘My gut and my heart feels like this was meant to be.’” “F9” stars “Fast and Furious” mainstays and newcomers alike: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel, John Cena, Helen Mirren, Charlize Theron, and Michael Rooker all lead the new movie. Cena makes his “Fast” franchise debut, as does Michael Rooker (“Guardians of the Galaxy”). “F9” is directed by Justin Lin, who previously helmed 2006’s “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,” 2009’s “Fast & Furious,” 2011’s “Fast Five,” and 2013’s “Fast & Furious 6.” He’s also already on board to direct “Fast & Furious 10,” but production on that film has not yet begun. The “F9” screenplay comes from Daniel Casey. The ninth film is a sequel to 2017’s “The Fate of the Furious.” Worldwide, the “Fast” films have grossed more than $5.8 billion dollars since the franchise launched in 2001. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
