The following contains spoilers for Fast X, now playing in theaters.
For some time, there's been chatter about a female-driven Fast & Furious spinoff. Admittedly, the main franchise has been very male-oriented. Yet despite the testosterone levels being so high, women like Letty and Mia Toretto have come to the fore in big moments.
Without them, Dom's team would have lost quite a few wars, so there's ample reason to call for more diversity and representation. Thankfully, that inclusivity is back in play, with news that extra projects are back in development. Interestingly, in Fast X's explosive ending, the road has been paved for a female-led prequel to be told, smartly padding the future of the property.
Fast X Leaves the Door Open for a Gisele Spinoff
In Fast X's shocking conclusion, Gisele (Gal Gadot) returns in a submarine to rescue Letty and Cipher from an Antarctica prison. There's no dialogue; it's just Gisele smiling, indicating she's eager to help them get back at Jason Momoa's Dante. However, fans are mystified how Gisele could have survived falling off a plane and onto a runway at high speed in the sixth film. Again, it's a franchise trope, with folks miraculously returning from the dead.
That aside, Fast X's twist opens the door for a spinoff to explore her recovery and what she did in the interim. Given that she worked for Mr. Nobody, his Agency could have had a hand in keeping her off the books the way it did for her lover, Han. In the process, the precursor can even reveal how Gisele made contact with Cipher and became an affiliate for someone who's a villain in the series. Seeing as Gadot's Wonder Woman tenure is in limbo, Universal Pictures can use this as a vehicle to capitalize on her star power.
A Fast & Furious Spinoff Can Finally Do Gisele Justice
Now, a big mistake the Fast & Furious franchise incurred was objectifying Gisele a bit. She was initially a romantic interest for Dom, then got swerved onto Han's path. This relegated her to a supporting role and a deus ex machina in the field. But her own side-quest can show more of her skills as an ex-Mossad agent, even taking the series back to the Middle East or Asia. Gisele would feel organic as a roving super-spy and leader, but it'd also create room for other women in the Fast family to shine.
No one knows what happened to Mr. Nobody in Fast X, so Gisele could have been investigating him going missing. This can bring in Brie Larson's Tess (Nobody's daughter) as they realize the likes of Aimes have been poisoning the Agency from within. Given not much has been seen from Mia either, a spinoff could elevate Mia by having her secretly work with Gisele on the bigger picture. Even in sub-arcs or cameos, it'd stitch together the family and drop hints that something is happening in the shadows they can't piece together yet.
It's a bit of the Marvel formula, per what was done with Black Widow. Still, such an approach goes a long way to adding inclusivity, patching the Fast & Furious franchise's redemption trope, and even giving Gisele new female allies and villains to reiterate how strong, badass women are indeed important to this lore. And ultimately, a Gisele lead-in can provide a lot of context for why she may well have extra tools and insight for the battle to come against Dante.
See Gisele's return and how a potential prequel is set up in Fast X, now playing in theaters.