Vin Diesel’s brief appearance in the final scenes of “Tokyo Drift,” the third film in the “Fast and Furious” series, not only connected the three movies together but also played a pivotal role in rejuvenating another beloved franchise, “Riddick.” Initially, the “Fast and Furious” films were slated for a direct-to-DVD release until Diesel agreed to make a cameo as Dominic Toretto in “Tokyo Drift.” This decision not only earned him a producer credit for future films in the series but also gave him enough influence with Universal Pictures to revive “Riddick” after its disappointing performance at the box office in 2004. Although Diesel decided not to reprise his role as Dom in “2 Fast 2 Furious,” he eventually returned to lead the cast of “Fast and Furious” from the fourth installment onward and was also given another opportunity to portray the character of Riddick.
When Dom made his grand entrance in Tokyo Drift, it solidified his bond with Han and opened the door for the beloved original Fast and Furious crew to make a comeback in the 2009 film. This pivotal moment sparked a series of incredible movies, such as Fast Five and The Fate of the Furious, which not only wowed audiences but also raked in billions of dollars. Despite this incredible success, the creation of Riddick was not a guaranteed endeavor. It took a significant amount of time and dedication to bring the third installment to life, facing various challenges before its eventual release in 2013.
Diesel found himself in a difficult situation when the agreement he had for Tokyo Drift was nearing its end, leaving him with just one month left. The expiration of the deal meant that all the time and money he had invested in writing and developing the project would have gone to waste, as it would have returned to the studio. This was undoubtedly the most frightening moment of his career. Fortunately, the sequel to Riddick, known as Riddick 4, received positive reviews and performed well at the box office. As a result, the development and filming of the fourth installment began, set for late 2023. However, there is a potential hurdle on the horizon—an Actors’ Strike expected in 2023, which may cause delays. If you haven’t already, you can watch the Riddick movies in their chronological order to catch up before the fourth movie hits the big screen.
It is no secret that Diesel is a huge fan of his favorite franchises. So, if you ever find yourself in the mood to rewatch the Fast and Furious movies in chronological order, it is important to acknowledge Diesel’s contribution to these films, even if it was just a brief two-minute cameo. For those of us who share his deep love for the franchise, it is worth taking a trip down memory lane and revisiting some of the most ridiculous scenes from the series. While we’re at it, let’s also delve into our list of dream cars from the Fast and Furious universe that we all wish we could drive. And if that isn’t enough to satisfy your craving for all things Fast and Furious, you can also check out our review of Fast X and get excited for the upcoming release of Fast and Furious 11.
