Summary
The upcoming eleventhFast & Furiousmovie has been planned as a grand finale to conclude the main series after over two decades of intense action set pieces, outrageous car chases, and increasingly over-the-top storylines. While it will be sad to say goodbye to Dominic Toretto, plenty of things must happen before theFast & Furioussaga comes to an end. With so much history and lore to reflect on, there’s no shortage of characters and ideas to return to as this series shifts into top gear and races toward the finish line.
TheFast & Furiousfranchise has many ongoing storylines that must be addressed before the series ends.Fast Xleft several lingering questionsthat need to be confronted in the final film, and that’s not to mention how many disparate concepts from previous films, spin-offs, and even television series could come into play asFast 11kicks into hyperdrive. While it will be impossible to find a conclusion that satisfies every audience member after so many years,several things must happen inFast 11before the saga ends.
10Mr. Nobody Needs To Return
Fast 11 needs to reveal what happened to Mr. Nobody
The government agent Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell) was one of the most mysterious and interesting characters in the entireFast & Furiousfranchise. As an enigma who was quietly orchestrating instances behind the scenes even before he was first introduced inFurious 7, it’s essential that Mr. Nobody returns inFast 11and viewers get a satisfying end to his story. Although Brie Larson was introduced as Mr. Nobody’s daughter Tess inFast X,her appearance did not make up for the sorely missed absence of Mr. Nobody in the tenth film.
Mr. Nobody was last heard from inFast 9through an SOS transmission that revealed his plane was attacked by rogue agents while he transferred the villainous Cipher. While viewers saw the wreckage, Mr. Nobody’s corpse was nowhere to be found, heavily implying he survived the attack and will return in some form inFast 11. Just what Mr. Nobody has been up to in the meantime or how it will all play into the franchise’s conclusion remains to be seen, but no matter what, he must turn up again before the saga ends.
9Justice For Han
Fast 11 needs to wrap up Han’s unfinished business
The character trajectory of Han Lue has been one of the strangest in theFast & Furiousfranchise and highlighted that no matter what, a character always had the potential to return, even if they appeared to be definitively deceased. Han was introduced inTokyo Drift, where he seemingly died in an explosion, but went on to appear in several subsequent films set before his death, before it was finally revealedMr. Nobody faked Han’s deathand was still alive inFast 9. While exactly how this all worked was quite confusing,Han’s character still has a lot of unfinished business.
The character of Han Lue first appeared in Justin Lin’s 2002 filmBetter Luck Tomorrowbefore he was incorporated into the Fast & Furious franchise.
With Han, it’s essential thatFast 11satisfyingly wraps up the disparate questions surrounding his character and finally makes amends for the wrongs of the past that the fan-led ‘Justice for Han’ campaign has strived for. Han’s death has previously been attributed to Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), and now that Shaw has started to gain acceptance into theFast & Furiouscrew, he and Han will become allies without ever having properly hashed it out. This issue must be addressed for Han’s story arc to have a satisfying conclusion.
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Han actor Sung Kang defends how the “Justice for Han” campaign plays out with Jason Statham’s Deckard Shaw Fast X, teasing that there’s more to come.
8Pay Homage To Paul Walker
Fast 11 needs to find a way to pay tribute to Brian O’Connor’s character and Walker’s legacy
One of the most upsetting real-life tragedies associated with theFast & Furiousfranchise wasthe death of Paul Walker, who played the series' original protagonist, Brian O’Connor. While Walker’s character was written out of the series inFurious 7, his legacy has loomed large over subsequent movies, and he was even implied to have attended the post-mission barbecue inF9. SinceFast 11will be the final entry in the mainFast & Furiousseries, it’s important that the conclusion finds a way to pay homage to Walker without feeling exploitative or overly melodramatic.
There are many ways thatFast 11could pay tribute to Walker, whether it’s through archival footage, references to his character, or even a brief CGI rendering, although to pull that off, it would need to be tastefully done. The brother-like relationship between Dominic Toretto and Brian was central to theFast & Furioustheme of a family, and the final installment should capture this aspect of their bond. AlthoughBrian was given a happy ending within the franchise,Fast 11must include an aspect that highlights his legacy before it all comes to an end.
7Introduce The Final Foe
Fast 11 needs to introduce a villain that lives up the legacy of the entire franchise
Onelesson thatFast 11can learn fromFast Fivewas how vital having a compelling villain has always been to the franchise. Before the saga comes to an end, there’s still time to introduce one last foe for Dominic Toretto and his crew to face off against. WhileJason Momoa’s Dante Reyes was a fascinating addition to the franchiseroster of villains inFast Xand will surely have a major role in the final entry, the franchise can push things even further with one last villain to shake things up as it races toward the finish line.
The most impactful antagonist introduced throughout the series has to be Dwayne Johnson as Luke Hobbs inFast Five, and although there were other popular villains like Jason Statham as Deckard Shaw in subsequent films,Fast 11has a final opportunity to top them all. With more than two decades of filmmaking behind it,Fast & Furiouscan take all the lessons it has learned about introducing a captivating foe to make this the most memorable in the entire series. It won’t be easy to top the introduction of Hobbs, butFast 11should at least aim for that level of impact.
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Many street criminals and internal masterminds have tried to take down Dom Toretto and his family, but some have been more threatening than others.
6The Stakes Must Be Higher Than Ever Before
Fast 11 needs to take things even further
TheFast & Furiousfranchise started as a car-based action series that was mostly based in the realm of reality. However, as the series progressed, particularly followingFast Five, the franchise became more bombastic, over-the-top, and downright absurd in its execution. While this has led to some criticism, it’s also part of why the series has lasted for so long as common sense and the laws of physics went out the window andFast & Furiousturned into something more reminiscent of a superhero series than anything set in the real world.
When a franchise has gone on as long asFast & Furioushas, it needs to continually up the stakes, and theFast 11should be no different. Instead of trying to ground the last installment in believability, it needs to embrace its wilder side and take things further than viewers have ever previously seen. If this was truly to bethe last outing for Dominic Toretto and his crew, then it needs to go out with a bang and take things further than they’ve ever gone before.
5Cipher Must Be Held Accountable
Fast 11 needs to address the damage Cipher has done
The notorious, powerful, and manipulative villain Cipher (Charlize Theron) may appear to be on the path toward redemption within theFast & Furiousfranchise, but her cruel acts and murderous nature meant several crew members would never truly accept her. With a complex character history that saw her eventually join forces with Dominic Toretto against Dante Reyes inFast X, Cipher was never truly held accountable for her sinister actions.Cipher murdered Elena inThe Fate and the Furious,and this heinous act must be addressed in the final installment.
The road to Cipher’s redemption will not be easy, and there’s a possibility she could stay true to her evil nature and double-cross the crew inFast 11. Whether it’s through redeeming herself or going full-scale villain once again, Cipher must be held accountable for her actions. Characters like Elena’s sister Isabel also have lingering resentments that should play into Cipher’s storyline inFast 11.
4Tony Toretto And His Crew
Fast 11 needs to tie the entire franchise together
There were many dimensions to theFast & Furiousfranchise, such as the standalone sequelTokyo Driftor spin-offs such asHobbs and Shaw, but one aspect that has yet to be properly incorporated into the film series was the animated showFast & Furious Spy Racers. This series focused on Dominic’s cousin, Tony Toretto, who was working with a government agency to take down a criminal organization. Before theFast & Furiousseries finishes, thisFast 11should include appearances from this spin-off television series.
Vin Diesel has already provided voice work as Dominic Toretto forSpy Racers, soTony Toretto and his crew could show up in the final installment. As an animated series, a new actor would need to be cast as Tony, and his inclusion would act as a fantastic Easter egg for longtime lovers of the Netflix series. While this would not need to be a major part ofFast 11, it would be a nice way to tie the entire franchise together.
3It All Comes Down To Family
Fast 11 needs to reiterate its main theme
If there were one recurring theme throughout theFast & Furiousfranchise, it would be family, and this aspect must remain for the final movie.Fast 11can be an opportunity to look back on everything that came before and highlight one last time how important family was toDomonic Torettoand the loyalty he has shown to those around him. As a love letter to friendship and family, both by birth and choice, this central tenet ofFast & Furiousmust be a significant part of the last outing.
TheFast & Furiousfamily treecan be confusing and convoluted, as familial bonds were often symbolic within the series and represented community more than anything else. Still, the actual Torettos, O’Connors, and Shaws were significant real family units that played important roles throughout the movies. The last movie must be a final statement on its message about family and its importance to the entire crew as they grew together over so many films.
2Pass Things On To A New Generation
Fast 11 needs to set up future spin-offs
Family has always been an important part ofFast & Furious, and one important aspect of family was passing things on to the next generation.Fast 11may be the final entry in the main series, but that’s not to say it’s the end ofFast & Furiousas a franchise, and the final movie must set up how things can be passed on to a new generation. With moreFast & Furiousspin-offs in the works (viaVariety),Fast 11has to lay the groundwork for a new generation to take over beyond the story of Dominic Toretto.
With plans for a team-up film involving Luke Hobbs and Dante Reyes, a female-led spin-off, and an untitled spin-off all planned for the future,Fast 11may be the final installment in this current version ofFast & Furious, but it’s far from the end. For these later movies to feel relevant,Fast 11has to set them up naturally. Whileit’s important thatFast 11feels like a definitive conclusion, it can also be the first hint toward a brand-new era for the franchise.
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1Bring Things Back To Where It All Started
Fast 11 needs to pay homage to the original while maintaining the later movie’s appeal
Over the past two decades, theFast & Furiousfranchise has changed significantly from its humble beginnings, and the final movie should find a way to take things back to where they all started. Of course, a more grounded approach may not work after the intense developments sinceFast Five. But to finish things off,Fast & Furiousneeds to strike the right balance between paying homage to the original’s legacy and waving goodbyeto the outrageous, over-the-top antics that have categorized the past several installments.
In an interview withVariety, NBCUniversal Studio Group Chairman and Chief Content Officer Donna Langley. Indicated a series return to the series roots forFast 11. “Where we go next is a question. We may pivot another time and bring it back to the streets of L.A. and maybe make it a more intimate story,” Langley said. By returning to the original setting of the series, the finalFast & Furiouscould pay homage to the original, tell a slightly more grounded story, and maintain the excitement of the later films simultaneously.
Sources:Variety,Variety
Fast & Furious
The Fast & Furious franchise revs through the adrenaline-fueled lives of Dominic Toretto and his crew of street racers turned global heroes. From the neon-lit streets of Los Angeles to the bustling cities and remote outposts worldwide, they take on high-stakes heists, espionage, and the underground world of street racing. Bound by loyalty and driven by the need for speed, they confront mercenaries, corrupt officials, and personal vendettas all in the name of their found family.
