Fast X director Louis Leterrier revealed that Jason Momoa was so eager to play the villainous Dante Reyes that he had to be held back from taking his performance overboard.
Per GamesRadar+, the filmmaker noted that while test audiences enjoyed Momoa’s over-the-top portrayal of the character, it didn’t fit with the rest of his movie. “Because we’re consummate professionals, we had dialed it so I would have been able to take it down in the cutting room if need be,” Leterrier said. “But frankly, as we started testing, and we saw the reactions of the crowds, we just decided to go almost fully in the direction that we had done. Really we went from, from one to 11, we passed the 10 in some of the scenes and we dialed it back sometimes.”
The director further explained why Dante was such a breath of fresh air for the Fast and Furious franchise, noting that his presence on the screen immediately captivated audiences. “Sometimes in these movies when you cut away to the villain, they’re so sour, so bored, and so angry, that you’re like, ‘Yeah, it’s my time to go to the bathroom,'” Leterrier concluded. “But really, whenever you cut away from the Dom Toretto story and you went to Dante, I could see the audience perk up, and go, ‘What now?'”
Momoa Claims His Throne
While Fast X may have proven to be a critical disappointment when it premiered, Momoa’s performance was widely praised. Many cited his off-the-wall behavior and unpredictable nature to be one of the movie’s saving graces. Shortly after the movie landed in theaters, reports claimed that star Vin Diesel was aggravated by Momoa’s success, leading to a feud between the actor. Both parties issued a brief statement shutting down any speculation, confirming that there is no animosity between them and they remain dedicated colleagues and friends.
As for the future of the Fast and Furious franchise, it remains unknown how many more movies fans can expect. Diesel has previously gone on record to state that at least two more entries in the mainline franchise are in development but Leterrier isn’t so sure that’s accurate. “Obviously the next one is coming, and then yeah, one movie at a time. I think the one thing that Hollywood keeps reminding us is that it’s one step at a time, put one foot forward at a time. Let’s count our blessings,” the director said.
Fast X is set to start streaming on Sept. 15.
Source: GamesRadar+