The Vin Diesel Franchise On Netflix That Started So Differently
Now the lead of a multi-film, billion-dollar-making franchise, it’s hard to believe that there was a time when Vin Diesel’s name wasn’t synonymous with The Fast and the Furious. For fans who have followed the story over its 12 films, animated series, and two shorts, you’ll know that things have really changed since undercover cop Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) first tangoed with Dominic Toretto’s (Diesel) crew in the debut 2001 feature. With a handful of the early titles now streaming on Netflix, there’s never been a better time to join the family for the first time or go on a thrill ride down memory lane.
Like something straight out of The Sopranos and very telling of what was hot in the early 2000s, the movies have certainly changed over the last two decades.
While over the years, we’ve seen Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew take on every mission imaginable – even going into space in Fast 9 – the original The Fast and the Furious film started on a much smaller scale. For those who may not remember or haven’t seen the film, the opening scene sees Toretto and the family hijacking a truck containing TVs with built-in DVD players and VCRs.
In the original feature, we meet Vin Diesel’s Dominic Toretto who, along with his crew of street racers, is trying to make an extra buck by ripping off these delivery trucks. Hoping to infiltrate the heisters and bring them down, Paul Walker’s police officer, Brian O’Conner, ultimately grows a soft spot for the gang of miscreants.
Setting things up for a sequel (which would turn into a boatload of other films), The Fast and the Furious spells out the beginning of a bromance between not only the two main characters but also the actors behind the performances.
Raking in $207.3 million at the global box office against its $38 million production budget, Universal Pictures immediately realized they had struck gold, green-lighting the follow-up film, 2 Fast 2 Furious which would come out two years later in 2003.
Along with Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, The Fast and the Furious boasted an all-star call sheet with some of the hottest names of the early 2000s. Also starring in the feature were Michelle Rodriguez, Rick Yune, Jordana Brewster, Ted Levine, Johnny Strong, and Chad Lindberg.
Raking in $207.3 million at the global box office against its $38 million production budget, Universal Pictures immediately realized they had struck gold, green-lighting the follow-up film, 2 Fast 2 Furious which would come out two years later in 2003.
From the humble beginnings of TV and VCR jackings and small-stakes street racing, Vin Diesel and the rest of the gang have come quite a long way since The Fast and the Furious. The most recent title, Fast X, tied the story back into the fifth installment, Fast Five, and saw Jason Mamoa playing the role of Dante, the angry son of Fast Five’s villain Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida) who is out for revenge following the events of the fifth film.
While heists and souped-up vehicles are still the name of the game, the ever-growing cast has certainly taken things to the next level and beyond over the last two decades.
With Vin Diesel still leading the films, tragedy struck in 2013 when Paul Walker sadly passed away. Still doing right by his The Fast and the Furious originator, Diesel has pushed to ensure that each installment is better than the one that came before, adding high-octane action and huge Hollywood names to continuously outdo previous projects.
The latest feature included a lineup consisting of Brie Larson, Helen Mirren, Rita Moreno, Sung Kang, Tyrese Gibson, Jason Statham, Charlize Theron, Nathalie Emmanuel, John Cena, Cardi B, Ludacris, Alan Ritchson, Michael Rooker, Daniela Melchior, and even Dwayne Johnson who previously stepped away from the franchise with no prior plans of returning.
As far as Vin Diesel, while he had previously held roles in films including Saving Private Ryan, The Iron Giant, and The Chronicles of Riddick: Pitch Black, it was through The Fast and the Furious that he really found his footing in the industry, launching him to success as – specifically – an action star.
Vin Diesel Is One Of Hollywood’s Biggest Action Stars
From here, things began to skyrocket for the actor who would, over the next several years, lend his name to roles in action flicks including more from The Chronicles of Riddick franchise, XXX, The Last Witch Hunter, Bloodshot, and The Guardians of the Galaxy franchise and other MCU films as Groot. And then, of course, there’s every other title in the Fast lineup.
Join the family and see where Vin Diesel’s career really sped into the fast lane as The Fast and the Furious and a handful of other films in the franchise are now streaming on Netflix.
