The upcoming action sequel Fast X is reportedly now on track to be one of the most expensive movies ever made. According to a report by The Wrap, the budget for Fast X has now ballooned to an eye-watering, and wallet-busting, $340 million due to salaries for its A-list stars and drama behind-the-scenes.
According to the report, sources “with knowledge of the production” have stated that Fast X has ended up costing the studio such a hefty sum due to “numerous budget-busting elements: increased salaries for series star Vin Diesel and the rest of the franchise’s ensemble cast, general increases in production costs caused by global inflation and charges for pandemic testing requirements mandated by COVID-19 safety protocols.”
This figure of $340 million puts Fast X in the top 5 most costly movies of all time, joining the likes of such Marvel outings as Avengers: Infinity War ($316M), Avengers: Endgame ($350M), Avengers: Age of Ultron ($386M), and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, which takes the top spot at $422M.
Not much has yet been revealed regarding the direction of Fast X, but we do know far too much about what has been going on behind closed doors. Director Justin Lin suddenly walked away from the project back in April following a “major disagreement” between himself and Vin Diesel. Attending a four-person meeting, Diesel reportedly arrived with notes, something Justin Lin was understandably unhappy with, considering he believed the script to be finished. The meeting reportedly ended with “a slammed door,” with sources saying that “Justin finally had enough and said, ‘This movie is not worth my mental health.’”
Fast X will now be directed by Louis Leterrier, who is best known for The Incredible Hulk, the Transporter series, Clash of the Titans, and Now You See Me.
Jason Momoa Joins the Fast & Furious Franchise as the Villainous Dante
While details of Fast X are being kept largely under wraps, we do now that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom star Jason Momoa will join the hugely popular franchise as the villain. Named Dante, Momoa’s bad guy will be another mysterious adversary of Dom and his family who is working with Charlize Theron’s Cipher.
Momoa has revealed some details regarding the character, describing him as “sadistic” and “eccentric,” teasing a villain that audiences do not expect. "Time of my life,” the action star said regarding his time working on Fast X. “I get to be the bad guy finally. I’ve been the good guy for a while. He’s very sadistic and androgynous and he’s a bit of a peacock… He’s got a lot of issues, this guy. He’s definitely got some daddy issues."
Momoa continued, revealing that the Dante will be a much less typically macho than his fans are used to. "It's been hard because people always think I'm just this dude who plays [macho characters],” he said. “But I want to be moved, I want something new. Things are changing, and even the villain roles I'm playing now are eccentric."
Starring Vin Diesel, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Jason Momoa, Jordana Brewster, Brie Larson, Nathalie Emmanuel, Sung Kang, Michael Rooker, Cardi B, Helen Mirren, Charlize Theron, Daniela Melchior, and Alan Ritchson, Fast X is scheduled to be released on May 19, 2023, by Universal Pictures. A sequel, Fast XI, is expected to be released in February 2024.