When Fast X arrives in May 2023, one thing is clear: we're being sold a grand finale. Vin Diesel says it himself, it's "the beginning of the end." After more than twenty years of cars launched at full speed and family stories told through machine gun fire, the tenth opus is presented as the first part of a diptych intended to definitively close the adventure of Dominic Toretto and his family.
The conclusion will wait
Fast X, directed by Louis Leterrier, doesn't finish anything. It sets the stage. Two and a half hours of twists, explosions, and XXL scenes for... a cliffhanger. A brutal turn right in the middle of the story. As if the engine were cut off without warning. Result: the story remains unresolved, and fans are left wanting more.
Officially, the sequel – simply titled Fast X: Part 2 – is expected in March 2026. A delay extended by writers' strikes and last-minute rewrites. Louis Leterrier remains at the helm, with the ambition of “returning to the essence of the saga,” in his words. Meaning: more street racing, fewer cars flying through space. Promise kept? We'll have to wait a little longer to find out.
No, Fast & Furious isn't over
And really, was it ever? Since Fast Five, each film was supposed to be “the last big chapter,” before a new spin-off, a post-credits scene, or a falling out between the actors got the ball rolling again. Dwayne Johnson's surprise return in the final scene of Fast X is proof: even departures are never truly final.
This false goodbye is also due to the very nature of the franchise. Fast & Furious isn't a saga like any other: it's an ecosystem. A constellation of characters, interwoven timelines, and parallel narratives. The spin-off Hobbs & Shaw could even get a sequel. And Vin Diesel has already hinted, halfheartedly, at the idea of exploring the universe through other formats—miniseries, prequels, or even films centered on supporting characters.
But what makes the question so complex is that it goes beyond the plot. It touches an entire generation. Fast & Furious is more than a series of action films. It's a pop-cultural phenomenon. A saga that began with underground tuning in Los Angeles and ended with Marvel-worthy sequences, with helicopters, submarines, and nuclear bombs. Leaving all that behind isn't easy. For anyone.
Yet, it will have to!
The actors are getting older. So are the audiences. The element of surprise is fading, the formula is wearing thin. Even if the box office remains solid (nearly $720 million for Fast X), the enthusiasm is no longer the same as in the Paul Walker era. The real challenge isn't making one last film. It's knowing how to stop with panache.
So, is the Fast & Furious saga over? Not yet. But it's getting there. Slowly, squealing a little on the bends, with the handbrake never far away. Until 2026, the engines are still running. And as long as Vin Diesel hasn't turned off the ignition, nothing is ever really over.
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