The cast of Fast X continues to grow as legendary actor Rita Moreno joins the explosive franchise.
As reported by Variety, franchise star Vin Diesel took to social media to confirm that Moreno will feature in the upcoming blockbuster as Abduella, the grandmother of protagonist Dominic Torreto. "It’s been my dream forever to work with Rita Moreno, and the fact that she’s here playing my grandmother makes my soul smile, Diesel said. Moreno jokingly chimes in, joking that her age was her key into the Fast and Furious franchise. "I think my old age was waiting for you to invite me. Isn't that nice?" said Moreno. "And I'm here and the answer is yes I'll do it. Not only do it, I'm tickled. I am so thrilled, this is gonna be so much fun." Moreno is widely knowing for her starring role in 1961's West Side Story for which she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
It's currently unknown how Moreno's character will factor into the overarching narrative of Fast X. Diesel has previously expressed his hopes that Moreno would board the series as Dominic's grandmother, noting that Abduella will appear in the franchise before his mother.
Moreno is the latest high-profile actor to join Fast X as the film recently confirmed appearances from beloved performers such as Brie Larson, Scott Eastwood, Jason Momoa and Alan Ritchson. Fans can also expect the return of several established characters including the aformention Torretto, Cipher (Charlize Theron), Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez) and Jakob Torreto (John Cena).
One Fast and Furious alum who won't be returning for the tenth installment in the franchise is director Justin Lin, who departed movie during the early stages of production. The filmmaker confirmed that while he will no longer be behind the camera but will still serve as a producer on the project. "Over 10 years and five films, we have been able to shoot the best actors, the best stunts, and the best damn car chases," wrote Lin. "On a personal note, as the child of Asian immigrants, I am proud of helping to build the most diverse franchise in movie history. I will forever be grateful to the amazing cast, crew and studio for their support, and for welcoming me into the Fast family."
Following Lin's departure, several reports surfaced which claimed that the filmmaker left Fast X due to concerns surrounding his mental health brought about by Diesel's on-set behavior. The conflict had reportedly been building for months before eventually bubbling over when Diesel presented a set of notes for the film's script which resulted in a "slammed door."
Fast X bolts into theaters on May 19, 2023.
Source: Variety