Louis Leterrier Replacing Justin Lin on Fast X

Movies

The next entry in the Fast and Furious franchise has a new driver. A week after director Justin Lin abruptly left the production of Fast X, Variety reports that Louis Leterrier will take his place once schedules are determined. Leterrier has helmed the first two Transporter movies with Jason Statham (despite not getting credit on the first one in America), The Incredible Hulk, and Clash of the Titans, as well as Netflix’s series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. Variety’s sources say that Leterrier won over “numerous other candidates” and was supposedly Universal’s first choice. As for Lin, more details have emerged about his exit via The Hollywood Reporter. Lin faced the enormous pressure of scrapped location shooting (a result of the conflict in Ukraine), script doctoring mandated by the studio (which Lin resented as one of the film’s writers who’d believed the script was locked), and a budget that had ballooned to over $300 million before marketing. But the last straw was a meeting with Vin Diesel, the star and producer of the Fast movies (outside of 2 and 3), who had some more suggestions for Lin. The meeting reportedly ended with what THR’s sources describe as “a slammed door” and Lin declaring, “This movie is not worth my mental health.” The THR piece also says that Universal reached out to F. Gary Gray, James Wan, and David Leitch, so Leterrier being their first choice is a bit of a publicity spin, although apparently, Universal did always want to bring him in for a Fast movie.

Is it safe to say the behind-the-scenes drama for Fast X is more compelling than whatever “family” histrionics Diesel and his buddies will melodramatically expound in the actual film? Justin Lin’s experience makes these productions sound like nightmares. Not only does he have to contend with the studio protecting their six-billion-dollar baby, but Vin Diesel’s growing ego and the hurdles life has thrown at Fast X, in particular, get piled on top of it. After hearing about Diesel’s ongoing tiff with The Rock – which ultimately resulted in the franchise losing its most magnetic screen personality – I totally buy Lin deciding he’s had enough of a prima donna who always needs to get his way (and one who is a producer, giving him more weight to throw around the set). It’s a shame; I don’t care for the Fast and Furious movies, but Justin Lin has been instrumental in their evolution from drag racing to blockbuster action-fests. The Hollywood Reporter says he was magnanimous enough to tell his supporters among the crew they should stay put and continue working on the film, which also suggests he’s a decent guy. As for Louis Leterrier, I’m happy for him. I like him a lot as a director,and am a fan of his Transporter movies and The Incredible Hulk. I’m glad he’s got something big like this to up his cred (which never seems to be what it should be), even if it’s not my thing. Fast X sounds like it’s having a lot of trouble early on, and while it’s likely going to be a hit, will it generate enough to make it as profitable as Universal needs it to be?

Are you glad to see Louis Leterrier directing Fast X? What do you make of the Justin Lin fiasco? Is this increasingly ridiculous series about to get even more fantastical than Clash of the Titans? Let us know in the comments, and stick around Geeks + Gamers for more movie news!