Imagine a world where Dominic Toretto, the ultimate family man, discovers the child he's fiercely protecting isn't his own blood. That's the bombshell that almost exploded in "Fast X," and it could have redefined the entire franchise!
Cooper Hood, ScreenRant's Associate Editor covering new movie releases, revealed some shocking behind-the-scenes details. Cooper not only writes about movies in theaters and on streaming services, but is also responsible for ScreenRant's content strategy for major releases, ensuring continued coverage for months. His work includes writing reviews that appear on Rotten Tomatoes, coordinating coverage for events like the Oscars and San Diego Comic-Con, even appearing on CNN to discuss "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning," and conducting interviews with talent.
Before director Justin Lin, the man who steered five previous "Fast & Furious" films, abruptly left "Fast X" due to creative clashes with Vin Diesel, he had a game-changing twist in mind. Lin's vision, as detailed in Barry Hertz's new book, "Welcome To The Family: The Explosive Story Behind Fast & Furious, The Blockbusters That Supercharged the World," involved revealing that Jason Momoa's villain, Dante Reyes, was actually Little Brian's real father!
"Welcome to the Family" dives deep into the development and production of "Fast X," uncovering the clash of creative visions.
According to Hertz's book, a pivotal source of disagreement centered on the script's ending. While everyone agreed on a cliffhanger, some versions of the screenplay featured a mind-blowing twist: Dante was Little Brian's biological father.
Some felt this dark revelation would force Dom to confront the very essence of his "family" mantra. The patriarch of the Fast crew would have to risk his life for a child who wasn't his by blood, but the offspring of his most hated enemy. But here's where it gets controversial... Others, including Diesel, strongly disagreed.
To understand the impact of this potential twist, let's rewind a bit. Little Brian's story began in "The Fate of the Furious," where we learned that Dom's former flame, Elena Neves (played by Elsa Pataky), secretly raised his son after the events of "Furious 7." After Cipher tragically kills Elena, Dom steps up as a devoted father, naming the boy Brian as a tribute to his fallen friend.
"F9" gave us glimpses of Little Brian, but it was "Fast X" where he became a central figure, with Dom desperately trying to protect him from Dante's vengeful wrath. In the theatrical release, Dante's motivation is simple: kill Little Brian to inflict maximum pain on Dom for killing his father in "Fast Five".
But imagine a "Fast X" where Dante's motivations are far more complicated. Instead of protecting his biological son, Dom would be fighting for a child he suddenly discovers isn't his own. This revelation could have added layers of complexity to Dom's character and the franchise's core themes.
And this is the part most people miss... While some might argue that such a twist would undermine Dom's established character arc and upset fans, others believe it could have elevated the franchise's exploration of family.
The "Fast & Furious" saga, after all, is as much about chosen family as it is about biological ties. Roman, Tej, Ramsey, and the rest of the crew are Dom's family, regardless of bloodlines.
Revealing that Little Brian isn't Dom's biological son could have amplified that theme, forcing Dom to choose to love the child based on their bond, not genetics. While the twist didn't make it into "Fast X," could it resurface in "Fast 11" or beyond? Perhaps Diesel might reconsider.
"Welcome To The Family: The Explosive Story Behind Fast & Furious, The Blockbusters That Supercharged the World" is available now, offering even more behind-the-scenes insights into the making of this iconic franchise.
Release Date: May 19, 2023
Runtime: 142 minutes
Director: Louis Leterrier
Starring: Dominic Toretto, Letty Ortiz
Writers: Justin Lin, Dan Mazeau
Producers: Jeff Kirschenbaum, Neal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel, Samantha Vincent
Prequel(s): Fast & Furious, 2 Fast 2 Furious, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, The Fast and the Furious, Fast 5, Fast & Furious 6, Furious 7, Fast and Furious 8, F9: The Fast Saga
Sequel(s): Fast and Furious 11, Fast & Furious 12
Franchise(s): Fast and Furious
Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller, Adventure, Mystery
What do you think? Would you have preferred seeing this shocking twist in "Fast X," or do you think it was the right decision to leave it out? Could it have added a new dimension to Dom's character, or would it have been a betrayal of his established values? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
