Over the past few decades, we have seen the emergence of countless big-budget Hollywood franchises that have been revered by fans and critics alike. From Star Wars to The Avengers, these franchises cover a broad range of topics that are bound to resonate with fans in one way or another and, in doing so, live well beyond the shelf life of their first work. One of the more recent examples of a franchise like this that has transcended well beyond its first film is the Fast & Furious franchise, originally pitched as a franchise centered around underground car culture but has grown into one of those big-budget, action-packed franchises. The Fast & Furious franchise is live and well with its tenth installment Fast X currently in production, however it appears the production has encountered a hurdle: franchise director Justin Lim has announced he will be exiting the production of Fast X due to infighting amongst the cast and crew.
Fast & Furious first debuted in theaters in 2001 and took viewers into the underworld of tuner car culture which sees individuals transform everyday cars into vehicles capable of producing high power and fast speeds. The franchise has extended well beyond that however with the most recent Fast & Furious films being backed by substantial budgets and packed with loads of action like many other franchises in their place. Now they are working on their tenth installment Fast X, however it appears the project’s production has hit a speed bump. Long-time franchise director Justin Lim has announced, in a tweet reposted below, his plans to step away from the project amidst “creative differences” with rumors swirling that a disagreement with the series’ star Vin Diesel being the final nail in the coffin. Lim will remain attached as a producer on Fast X, however rumor has it that he is set to be replaced by French filmmaker Louis Leterrier. Fast X is slated to debut in theaters on May 23rd, 2023 however we will have to wait and see if this development has any impact on that release date.
Lim has been a stalwart in the Fast & Furious franchisee, having directed five of the franchise’s nine films. It caught Hollywood by surprise when the news broke, and many are worried what impact this could have upon the franchise’s legacy. We will simply have to wait and see as Fast X spends the next year ensuring they deliver for their fans.
