The Fast Fantasy: Getting under the hood with the cast of F9

Note: This feature was first published on 12 May 2021.

With the ninth instalment of the globally successful Fast franchise set to arrive in just a few weeks on 25 June, there's probably no better opportunity to start getting everyone into gear (heh.). We had the privilege of speaking to some of the crew a while back on their experiences making this movie, and to say that these sessions were entertaining would probably be an understatement. 

We've got three interviews in store for you, so feel free to navigate to any of the other two pages to check out the respective interviews. Speaking of which, here's an easy list for reference.

• Page 1: John Cena
• Page 2: Director Justin Lin and Sung Kang
• Page 3: Vin Diesel

With the formalities out of the way, we're kicking things off by speaking to the man behind the film's primary antagonist. As a character, Jakob Toretto is a fearsome adversary - he is Dom's disgraced brother who's on a quest for vengeance against his older sibling. Packing both his brother's flawless driving skills as well as his own brand of ruthlessness in his arsenal, he just might prove to be the crew's most capable adversary yet. 

However, his actor is anything but cold and serious. Played by the one and only John Cena (cue the theme!), he was really entertaining to talk to, and it was pleasant to see him trying hard to give a shoutout to his fans in Mandarin at one point (though it's a shame we can't really capture that moment with a bunch of text!). So, without further ado, let's get right into it.

Interviews have been edited for length and clarity.

Q: How did you feel when you were first offered the role of Jakob Toretto? Was it the role you always dreamed of?

A: Hmm...I wouldn't say that I "dream" of roles - I don't do that to myself. Rather, I just kind of react to opportunities. So, imagine my reaction when they came up to me and said "Hey John, we'd like you to join one of, if not the most successful global franchises in the history of cinema!" - I was completely ecstatic, that's for sure. It's the opportunity of a lifetime,and I can't say that I "dreamt" of it because until now the experience just feels so surreal.

Q: Were there any experiences from your time in the WWE that you were able to bring into F9? In terms of your approach or the expertise required for certain scenes?

A: That's a great question, and while I would like to give you an answer that extends far beyond the movie screen, I would probably waste all the time in this roundtable doing that! Perhaps I'll let people know about that another day, but what I will say is that my time in the WWE continues to prepare me for who I am as a man, and that every single day continues to show me new experiences and lessons which I can apply in my daily life. 

Q: What do you feel is the biggest difference between the movie and your work in the WWE?

A: Well, the most obvious difference is certainly the process. WWE stuff happens lightning-fast, while movies, not just F9 are all about being meticulous - you just do the same thing over and over again until it's perfect for the silver screen. Admittedly, with all the time I've spent in the WWE, the shift in the process really took me some time to get used to, though I've since become accustomed to this new pacing. 

Q: What does it feel like, both in and out of character to work with all these big names in showbiz?

A: Wow! Honestly, I think the scenes that I had to film with Charlize Theron were one of the more memorable experiences in F9. She has this sheer, undeniable presence when we're shooting scenes, and she, like the rest of the cast off-screen just made me a better person. And anytime you're faced with that level of skill and proficiency, it's always uncomfortable - to know that you're giving your best and you're still not even close to what the best are capable of. It basically forces you to be your best every moment of the day, and that's what I took away from all of this.

Q: A long running theme of the Fast franchise has been its focus on "family". After your experiences working on the film, how has the definition of the word changed for you?

A: I think at the very least, it means celebrating and being there for those you care about. To be able to provide an environment of safety and comfort for these people, regardless of their last name and their backgrounds. To call them out when they stray from their values, and encouraging them to be themselves - it's that sense of community and love that really defines "family" for me.

For our second interview, we had Director Justin Lin as well as Sung Kang in the guest chairs, and like Mr. Cena, they were an absolute pleasure to work with. I daresay this session probably turned out to be funniest one among the three interviews - Sung Kang's witty quips made the interview feel far less like an interview and more like a cheerful catch-up session over a cold beer.

Amusingly, I'm not sure if the latter has always been that broad-shouldered or if it was just his beige coat. Anyway, back to the Q&A - since there are two interviewees, we've also labelled the questions accordingly.

Q (to Justin): How do you manage to keep the energy and the action scenes fresh in each movie? 

Justin: I think the most important thing we have to do when we're crafting the scenes is respecting the growth of our characters throughout the franchise. If we kept doing action for action's sake our audiences would probably get bored after ten seconds of it. As such, I'm quite proud of how the Fast characters don't remain "static" - we've gone from several individuals to couples and now we have an entire well-knit family. In short, our brand of action has to reflect our commitment to the characters' growth, and if we don't know where the characters are going before we plan it, it's probably not going to work. 

Q (to Justin): In your opinion, what was the biggest challenge you had in making this film, especially having to juggle all of these talented people?

Justin: Well, I would definitely say that "character real estate" was the biggest challenge to overcome. As a director, you've got to give all of these amazing people and their characters their time to shine, and you have to do it all within a single movie canvas. However, this is probably one of those "high-class" problems that you don't really mind having - I wouldn't mind working with this every day of my life!

Q (to Sung Kang): What was the experience like for you during production, especially considering the team had to keep your participation and return (as Han) under wraps?

Sung Kang: I think Universal did a really great job of hiding me, and they made sure that there was little to no room for error in that regard. For example, whenever there were birthday parties on set, I was never invited...heh. Anyway, I think having short hair at the time helped as well. People usually associate Han with his long hair and all, so in a way, that small detail might have contributed to keeping me a secret.

Justin: To be honest, I'm actually surprised nobody caught you sneaking around London!

Sung Kang: That's true. So uh, I guess we did well? In any case, they put me in some college area with a bunch of medical students, so perhaps they were too busy studying to notice that I was there, and it all worked out nicely in the end.

Q (to both): There's a lot of "nostalgia" going around these days, especially for things we can't do because of the pandemic. Was there any message you were intending to share with the fans in this regard using the film?

Sung Kang: I think you said it right there in the question - it's about looking and going back in time to more familiar territory and cherished memories, hence the term "nostalgia". I think the movie brings this back on so many different levels, with characters like Han returning to the fray, and it's especially poignant in view of the sense of isolation everyone is feeling as a result of the pandemic. After this (pandemic) is all over, it'll be nice to go out and see your friends again - so yeah, you said it, Fast 9 is all about the "nostalgia".

Q (to both): What were some of the challenges that both of you faced in redeveloping Han as a character?

Justin: For me, as a director, I primarily had to address the issue of Han having a "meaningful absence", and more importantly creating one that was relatable. For that, we drew upon a lot of our own life experiences, and I can't tell you how gratifying it is for us (himself and Sung Kang) to be part of the process and meet so many wonderful people along the way like Jordana, Tyrese, Michelle, Vin and so on. It's like we became a family just like what the franchise itself explores. So, in that sense, my challenge wasn't in bringing Han back. Rather, it was about making sure that his return was worth the explanation.

Sung Kang: I basically echo what Justin said, and on a separate note, I guess the physical side of things also factors in at some point. You know, as you get older, it gets...difficult to shoot the action scenes and get up five times in a row without going "Oh my back!" or something. So, you know, it becomes more and more challenging with each movie. But that's why we have stunt doubles, right?

Our third and final interview was with the franchise's main male protagonist, Vin Diesel, and the character of Dominic "Dom" Toretto is certainly one that doesn't need any introduction. The name has practically become synonymous with the Fast franchise for good (and obvious) reasons. Not only has the streetwise thrill-seeking racer tussled with the likes of Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) and Cipher (Charlize Theron) in the past, but now he's going to go up against his own brother in Jakob Toretto (John Cena). For a franchise that places so much emphasis on "family", the fight in F9 is probably Dom's most challenging one yet.

That said, while Vin Diesel himself certainly radiates Dom's natural charisma and presence, he's also a LOT more chill than his stern, rugged demeanor would suggest. So, let's see what he's got for us!

Q: What were some of the motivations the production team had for bringing John Cena on board for the role of Jakob? What was the experience like working with him?

A: Working with John Cena was certainly amazing. First of all, you're probably well aware of how much combat and action sequences there are in the Fast films, so his expertise and familiarity in the sphere of combat entertainment was a big contributing factor. In addition, his experience allowed us to push the limits of the action even further than we previously thought. You can make the scenes much more dynamic for audiences to enjoy, and of course on the production side, it's always great to have a partner who's well-versed in such situations.

Q: The Fast franchise has grown exponentially since its inception. You've gone from running bank heists and street races to straight-up saving the world. What are your thoughts on the evolution of the franchise in this respect?

A: To put it simply, after nine movies, you just have to commit to defying expectations and go the extra mile to get the "Ooh!" and the "Wow!" out of the audience. While those of us who work on these films are happy to see how it has turned out, the challenge of chasing for the next big spectacle is always going to be there. That said, the evolution of Fast is also a testament to all of you, the fans. You guys have been the best, and you've been there each and every time. You've championed us, cheered us on...but you've also followed our characters as they grew and developed, and that is what really makes us want to continue giving you our best and making you proud. 

Q: Did you ever see the Fast franchise becoming as big and successful as it is, back when you were making the first movie roughly twenty years ago?

A: No, I absolutely did not. In fact, I told the studio NOT to do another one after the first Fast movie! The reason for it was, as I told them, whenever you do a sequel for a movie, you throw away the potential for the first one to become a classic. But I was wrong, and I couldn't have been more wrong with all of the things that have happened throughout the history of Fast. However, their initial direction for the second film wasn't what you guys saw on screen. Rather than a continuation, they just wanted to bring the branding over, and I'm happy that they took the route that we're now familiar with. I mean, Dominic Toretto is a father, and we, as audiences and actors get to live with them in that fantasy that we've created over the past twenty years. I think that's really cool. 

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