Top 10 Things To Remember Before Seeing Fast and Furious 9
#10: Physics Don’t Matter
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This is hardly a shocker for anyone who’s seen one of these films in the last decade. While the first few entries were a little more grounded as they centered more around street racing, later sequels decided to fully embrace their titles and throw that old physics book straight out the window. Since then, each film has chosen at least one action set piece to center its marketing campaign around, and “F9” is no different, as that rope bridge swing has our jaws hitting the floor in amazement. While we’d never tell anyone to turn off their brains, you do have to defer to the set rules a movie provides, assuming it’s consistent. And boy has the “Fast” Saga committed to the spectacle of awesomeness.
#9: The Status of Hobbs & Shaw
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After their hilarious interplay in “Fate of the Furious,” Universal knew they had something good and fast-tracked a Hobbs & Shaw spinoff that came out in 2019. It was a pretty solid entry with a sequel in development, but now that the saga is shifting back to the mainline films, both title characters will be largely absent from “F9.” Dwayne Johnson isn’t slated to appear at all, marking this the first film he’s sat out since making his “Fast Five” debut in 2011. Jason Statham on the other hand will be making a cameo in the end-credits, much like he did in “Fast & Furious 6.” And speaking of that scene, his appearance here will likely relate to what he did in that one.
#8: Justin Lin Is Directing
“Fast & Furious” has seen lots of notable directors come and go, from John Singleton, to F. Gary Gray, to David Leitch and even horror maestro James Wan. But no one is more synonymous with the franchise than Justin Lin. Arriving on the scene with “Tokyo Drift,” Lin helmed four consecutive films up to “Fast & Furious 6,” and thus deserves much of the credit for revitalizing the series. While he then detoured to another franchise with “Star Trek Beyond” in 2016, he’s back in the director’s chair for “F9,” and we couldn’t be happier. Not only that, but he’s been tapped to make the tenth and eleventh installments as well, which will purportedly close out the saga. Let’s just say the series is in safe hands.
#7: Helen Mirren Is Getting Behind the Wheel
Yeah, you heard that right: Academy Award Winner and British Dame Helen Mirren is going to get a little fast and furious herself. She’s playing Magdalene Shaw, mother of Deckard, Owen and Hattie Shaw. Funnily enough, Mirren met Vin Diesel at a party prior to the filming of “Fate of the Furious” and asked for a role in the franchise directly. Diesel obliged, and the character was created specifically for her. While she only had bit parts in the aforementioned film and “Hobbs & Shaw,” Mirren looks to be getting in on the action in “F9,” as she gives Dom some familial advice after evading police. We don’t know what we did to deserve Helen Mirren in “Fast & Furious,” but we are here for it.
#6: Cipher’s Villain Status
Many antagonists in “Fast & Furious” have gone on to work with Dom’s crew later on, with some becoming full-blown protagonists like Deckard Shaw. Maybe there’s something pacifying in that sweet, sweet Corona. In any event, that does not seem to be the case with Charlize Theron’s Cipher. No, that train pretty much left the station when she had Dom’s baby mama Elena murdered in cold blood. Evil incarnate, she is a master manipulator, and her high-tech gadgetry makes her ultra dangerous. Much like she controlled Dom in her first outing, she seems to be doing something similar to his brother Jakob. We don’t know how much longer Dom will let Cipher draw breath, but we’ll relish her unabashed villainy until then.
#5: Mia’s Return
10 Things To Remember Before Seeing Fast X
If there’s one character from the original “Fast & Furious” that’s been underserved in recent years, it’s Dom’s sister Mia. Played wonderfully by Jordana Brewster, Mia appeared to have gotten a happily-ever-after at the end of “Furious 7,” as she and Brian retire from the crew lifestyle to raise their son Jack and second child on the way. Of course, this was partially written to accommodate the tragic passing of Brian O’Conner actor Paul Walker, and both characters subsequently sat out the eighth installment. However, given the return of her and Dom’s long-lost brother Jakob, it would seem Mia is returning to the fold to handle some family matters while Brian ostensibly watches the kids.
#4: Future Projects
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It’s no secret that the “Fast & Furious” movies have become a worldwide phenomenon in recent years and a serious cash cow for Universal. So it’s only natural that the studio would have the next few adventures mapped out. As mentioned, it has been widely reported that entries 10 and 11 will conclude the story of Dom’s crew, so expect “F9” to be something of a kickstart to a thematic, climactic trilogy. Again, the “Hobbs & Shaw” movies seem to be going their own way, but there’s another spinoff that might have implications for this one. Writers Nicole Perlman, Lindsey Beer and Geneva Robertson-Dworet have been hired to pen a female-led film, so watch for characters like Letty, Mia and Ramsey to move in that direction.
#3: “Fast & Furious” in Space?
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Each movie in the saga has taken on the herculean task of one-upping its predecessor in terms of wild stunts, and for the most part they’ve pulled it off. But as the films progressed, fans began joking that it was inevitable that “Fast & Furious” would go the way of other franchises and take the action to outer space. Well, that day may have finally come. After plenty of teasing from the cast and crew, we might have got our first glimpse of the scene in question. While we probably won’t be getting high-speed rover chases on the moon like in “Ad Astra,” trailers show Roman and Tej outfitted in a rocket car of sorts that is getting dangerously close to leaving the atmosphere.
#2: The Toretto Family Is Widening
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If you don’t like fast cars or characters saying the word “family,” then let’s face it, this franchise isn’t for you. Though the family that is Dom’s crew is always adding new members and allies, this time a blood relation we’ve been hitherto unaware of is acting as the driving force behind the proceedings. We don’t know the specifics of this facet of the Toretto family history, but Dom’s younger brother Jakob - played by none other than John Cena - is ready to step out of the shadow of his big bro in a big way. Naturally, the two muscle heads are primed to be antagonistic toward one another, and we’re guessing Dom’s family-first stance is about to be tested. Cue the fireworks.
#1: Justice for Han
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The fans may have played a hand in this development as well, as a presumed dead, fan-favorite character looks to make a serious comeback. Indeed, while Han’s death may have worked in “Tokyo Drift,” his expanded role in the prequels made his inevitable exit feel a bit unceremonious. And seeing as his supposed killer Deckard Shaw has undergone some redemption, it’s only logical that Han ought to have his day in the sun, too. What he’s been doing all these years, we don’t know, but this is some retconning we can actually get behind if executed right. The world wanted justice for Han, and now justice is coming. We could not be more psyched.
