Nothing prepared us for when Dom Toretto turned into a guy waiting for a text back.
Vin Diesel, the gravel-voiced face of Fast & Furious, just did something unheard of for someone who's supposedly steering a billion-dollar franchise: he begged Universal Pictures on social media to tell fans when the next movie is coming. “Please,” he wrote. Twice.
Let's be real: you don't go full Vin Vulnerable unless the engine's stalled.
And that's exactly what's happening.
“Fast X” crashed more than it cruised
Despite a massive $340 million budget (that's more than Barbenheimer combined), Fast X sputtered at the box office with a $714.5M haul—not terrible, but a far cry from the billion-dollar highs of its predecessors. It ended on a cliffhanger, sure—but instead of fan outrage or “what happens next?!” theories flooding TikTok, it landed with the thud of a flat tire.
Universal's silence since has been louder than any NOS-fueled chase scene.
Even Tyrese Gibson, another series regular, recently wondered aloud if the sequel's even happening. And while director Louis Leterrier did claim back in May that production would start in early 2025 for a 2026 release, that plan is clearly sliding off the calendar like a Dodge Charger on wet pavement.
The Franchise Is Out of Fuel—And Ideas
Let's talk history. This isn't the first time a tentpole franchise hit a wall. Remember Transformers: The Last Knight? Budget bloat, waning fan interest, and too many half-baked scripts sank that one, too. Paramount eventually hit reset with Bumblebee, a leaner, tighter spinoff. The lesson? Go smaller—or go home.
Jeff Sneider's newsletter hinted at exactly that: Universal is reportedly considering a “lean and mean” approach for the eleventh Fast film. Translation: less globe-trotting, fewer exploding satellites, and maybe—just maybe—a story people actually care about.
But here's the rub: rewrites are already happening. Multiple writers have cycled through, and the original April 2025 release date has quietly been bumped to March 2026. (Happy 25th anniversary to The Fast and the Furious… maybe.)
When Diesel Pleads, Pay Attention
Vin's Instagram post wasn't just a PR stunt—it was a smoke signal. And not the kind you see behind a souped-up muscle car. If the sequel were on track, he wouldn't need to play fan liaison. The studio would be running trailers by now.
The real question: why does Universal still seem hesitant? Was Fast X the final warning shot? Or are they regrouping for a grand finale that doesn't cost the GDP of a small country?
So what now?
Here's the uncomfortable truth: Fast & Furious has become too bloated to drift. And Diesel knows it. That's why he's turning to fans—because the studio's not picking up the phone.
Would you risk another $300M on a franchise that might've peaked four movies ago?
Comment below. NOS optional.
