Fast X, the forthcoming installment of the epic Fast & Furious action film franchise, just got even more star power. According to The Wrap, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will make his return to the series, reversing his previous desire to stay away.
Johnson is set to reprise the role of Luke Hobbs, appearing in a post-credit scene of the forthcoming film.
In November 2021, series star Vin Diesel hit Instagram, begging The Rock to return to the franchise. At the time, The Rock responded: “I was firm yet cordial with my words and said that I would always be supportive of the cast and always root for the franchise to be successful, but that there was no chance I would return.”
He added, “Vin’s recent public post was an example of his manipulation.”
Industry insiders believe The Rock rejoining the franchise puts a halt to a cold streak that included Red Notice, Skyscraper, and more.
The Fast X cast includes Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Jason Momoa, Nathalie Emmanuel, John Cena, Charlize Theron, Helen Mirren, Brie Larson, and Rita Moreno. The movie hits theaters this weekend.
Remakes in pop culture are nothing new. In fact, countless classic films were remakes of pictures from the silent era, and the trend has never slowed. If anything, remakes have become omnipresent across almost all forms of media. Films, television shows, and video games are filthy with remakes and reboots, for better and worse. Regarding video games, remakes, remasters, and reboots have become the industry norm.
With graphic capabilities and intuitive playability constantly improving, it only makes sense that gamers would be more inclined to revisit their favorite experiences. Recent remake releases such as Dead Space, The Last of Us Part 1, and Resident Evil 4 have all been massive hits and tentpole entries into video game canon. However, some video remakes have not found the same level of broad appeal as these aforementioned titles. Here are just a few that could use a bit more celebration for their improvement on the source material.
5. Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty! (2014)
Oddworld Inhabitants’ 2014 remake of their 1997 PlayStation cult classic Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee was nothing short of a revelation. The remake Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty reinvents the world of our Mudokon protagonist Abraham Lure by jettisoning into the realm of 2.5D. This may sound like a small leap forward, but the improved graphic fidelity creates a new gameplay experience. The hostile world of Abe was rendered gorgeously. All that means is the 1997 original had been kept intact and improved in almost every conceivable way.
The Oddworld franchise has always had a rabid fan base. However, Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty should have had a broader appeal. It made the puzzle platforming far more accessible by adding tighter controls and a difficulty setting, something the original game did not grace players with. While the follow-up, Oddworld: Soulstorm (2021), did not live up to the promise of its predecessor, Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty remains a masterful remake of a cult favorite that should have had a much broader audience.
4. Strider (2014)
The 1989 hack-n-slash platformer Strider was an arcade favorite for gamers looking for a tough-as-nails challenge. Players took control of the manga character Strider Hiryu and traversed a dystopian cyberpunk world. Wielding a plasma sword known as “Cypher,” gamers were besieged by legions of vicious enemies and increasingly difficult platforming obstacles. The game would later be ported to home consoles, to diminishing returns.
However, in 2014, developer Double Helix Games breathed new life into Strider on the PlayStation 3. This version of the game was a reboot that gave the graphics and controls a tight reconfiguration. Despite not having the designer of the original arcade release, Kouichi Yotsui, the game maintained the spirit of the original. It preserved the clever level of design and bone-crushing difficulty. Strider (2014) kept the core mechanics firmly planted in the confines of a 2D platformer. But it was fresh for gamers who might be more inclined to play in a 3D environment.
3. Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes (2004)
Hideo Kojima’s 1998 PlayStation release Metal Gear: Solid was ground-breaking. Kojima defined the stealth game based on the framework of the 1987 NES predecessor Metal Gear. Six years after Metal Gear: Solid’s release, Kojima redesigned the game with the 2004 remake Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes for the Nintendo GameCube. Twin Snakes featured updated graphics and gameplay mechanics, similar to 2001’s Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.
The game also included new cut scenes written and directed by renowned Japanese filmmaker Ryuhei Kitamura, further galvanizing the franchise’s cinematic tone. Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes was a financial and critical hit. However, there has yet to be a rerelease at the time of this writing. The underappreciation of the game has stemmed from its confinement to an oddball Nintendo console with a wonky controller.
2. The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena/Escape From Butcher Bay (2009)
Movie tie-in video games have historically been universally regarded as a cynical cash grab. For every X-Men Origins: Wolverine (a game that trumps the movie it was based on tenfold), there were dozens of cheaply produced bargain bin releases littering game store shelves. One of the best examples of a movie tie-in game breaking the cycle was the 2004 Xbox release The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay. The game also acts as a prequel to the films Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick. It’s the most fun you can have pretending to be Vin Diesel.
In 2009 The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena was released. Further, this title included a remake of Butcher Bay and a sequel campaign. The remake and additional content improved upon the stealth mechanics. It also featured enhanced graphics and sound design, taking advantage of the next-gen technology of the time. Butcher Bay is a must-play for gamers looking for a first-person experience not focused on shoot-em-up set pieces. The remake (and its sequel) feel more like an expansion of an insane sci-fi property than just trite studio-mandated merchandise.
1. Rygar: The Legendary Adventure (2002)
The 1986 side-scrolling arcade game, Rygar, was a hit at the time of its release. Utilizing a unique weapon known as the “Diskarmor,” players took control of a legendary warrior to traverse a hostile world inspired by Greek Mythology. It only made sense for a remake to rear its head eventually. In 2002, developer Tecmo revisited the property with Rygar: The Legendary Adventure for the PlayStation 2.
This was one of the best remakes no one seems to talk about. Incorporating solid 3D platforming and combat, Rygar: The Legendary Adventure almost acts as a precursor to the God of War franchise. The combo hit system, and incredible soundtrack, also gave the remake a sense of epic scope. While there are certainly things to take issue with, most notably the amount of downtime, the game was way ahead of its time.
The NBA has added a series of high-profile artists to the list of performers at the 2023 All-Star Weekend. Post Malone is perhaps the biggest name who will now be hitting the stage later this month. 2023 GRAMMY Award-winning singer and Oscar-nominated singer and producer Tems will also be performing at the event. Other artists include Burna Boy, Jewel, and Rema. Vin Diesel will also now be joining Ben Affleck to introduce the athletes for the game.
The NBA previously announced that The Kid LAROI and Bia will be performing during the weekend as well. They’ll serve as the headliners for the AT&T NBA All-Star Pregame Concert. After the performance, the NBA family will honor LeBron James for becoming the league’s all-time scoring leader.
The performance for Post Malone comes just weeks after fans on social media expressed concern about his health. The worry came after a video of him looking slimmer than normal during a recent show made its way to the internet. A source close to the rapper confirmed to TMZ that “he’s not on drugs or sick.” Instead, they explained that he recently gained weight for a movie role but has since been “adhering to a strict diet and working out.” Malone will be performing a medley of hits following the first-ever in-arena NBA All-Star Draft.
LeBron James broke the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, earlier this month. When he did, the league paused the game to honor him on the court. His mother, wife, and children met and embraced him as Commissioner Adam Silver and previous record-holder Kareem Abdul-Jabbar congratulated him. “I want to say thank you to the Laker faithful, you guys are one-of-a-kind. To be able to be in the presence of a such a legend and great as Kareem means so much to me. It’s very humbling. Please give a standing ovation to Cap, please,” James said to the crowd. The 72nd NBA All-Star Game will tip off at 8:30 PM, ET on Sunday, February 19 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City and air on TNT.
The release of Fast X is just over three months away. Universal has accelerated and hit the gas on unveiling the film’s trailer to television for the Super Bowl. The highly-anticipated trailer scored 295 million global views within the first 72 hours of its release. A source with connections to Universal confirmed the statistics to Variety. Universal counted views across many social media platforms. Instagram held roughly 30% of the trailer’s total views. Coming in second place was TikTok, where 25% of the trailer’s views came from. Facebook came in third place with 22% of views, and Youtube came in fourth place with 18%. Additionally, Twitter held only 6% of views on the trailer, but “Fast X” was the top trending topic on Twitter in the United States immediately following the trailer’s release.
As far as promotional events go, Universal held multiple events celebrating the release of the trailer’s film footage. The studio hosted a launch event for the trailer on February 9, 2023. The event took place in downtown Los Angeles and featured appearances from the franchise. Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges and Sung Kang, and director Louis Leterrier were all in attendance. Interestingly, the majority of views for the trailer came from international territories. Connected with this, Universal held fan events in Mexico, France, and Japan, as well.
“Fast X” Trailer
Plus, the studio will release a series of “Legacy Trailers” beginning in early February. They will roll out a new edition of the trailer each day, focusing on a different cast member of the film. The Fast X trailer aired online for the first time on the morning of February 10. Universal released the trailer officially a few days prior to Super Bowl LVII. Then, the trailer then aired during the program on February 12. It showcases the danger that Dom (Vin Diesel) and everyone he cares about will face as “the end of the road begins.” Fans are looking forward to seeing Jason Momoa’s character, Dante, who will be Dom’s newest adversary.
Based on Fast X‘s synopsis, “Dante’s plot will scatter Dom’s family from Los Angeles to the catacombs of Rome, from Brazil to London and from Portugal to Antarctica. New allies will be forged and old enemies will resurface. But, everything changes when Dom discovers that his own 8-year-old son is the ultimate target of Dante’s vengeance.” Justin Lin, Zach Dean, and Dan Mazeau wrote Fast X. Producers include Diesel, Lin, Neal Moritz, Jeff Kirschenbaum, and Samantha Vincent. The film’s theatrical release date is set for May 19, 2023.
Universal has begun the promotional campaign for the highly-anticipated 10th film of the Fast & Furious franchise,Fast X. Today, they released the film’s action-packed trailer. Brie Larson and Jason Momoa lead a group of new actors and actresses that have been added to the franchise. Momoa plays a villain, Dante. Larson plays a new character, Tess. Other individuals new to the franchise include Michael Rooker, Daniela Melchior, Alan Ritchson, and Rita Moreno. Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Sung King, Jason Statham, John Cena, Helen Mirren, Charlize Theron, and Scott Eastwood will return to their roles.
The trailer for Fast X showcases the danger that Dom and his crew will encounter in as “the end of the road begins.” Momoa’s character, Dante, is their newest adversary. Apparently, he has ties to Fast Five (2011). Dante remembers when Dom and Brian (Paul Walker) tied a bank fault to their Dodge Chargers and drove it through Brazil to get away from Hernan Reyes. Their heist ruined his life. After all, he is Reyes’ son. He has spent the last 12 years thinking of a plan for revenge against them. He wants to ruin the “Fast” family and make Dom lose someone he loves.
“Fast X” Trailer
Since becoming reunited with Jakob at the end of F9: The Fast Saga, the Toretto family’s patriarch has tons to lose. He is also raising his son, little Brian (Leo Abuelo Perry), with Letty (Michelle Rodriguez). According to Fast X‘s synopsis, “Dante’s plot will scatter Dom’s family from Los Angeles to the catacombs of Rome, from Brazil to London and from Portugal to Antarctica. New allies will be forged and old enemies will resurface. But, everything changes when Dom discovers that his own 8-year-old son is the ultimate target of Dante’s vengeance.”
Larson’s character, Tess, is described as a “rogue representative from the Agency, looks to be on the side of the Torettos.” Also, “Captain Marvel” makes four Oscar-winning performers in the franchise (with Moreno, Theron, and Mirren). Richtson’s character, Aimes, is the new head of the agency. Apparently he “doesn’t hold the same fondness for Dom’s crew as his predecessor, Mr. Nobody.” Furthermore, Melchior is a Brazilian street racer who is connected to Dom’s past. The trailer footage also promises a major fight scene between Cipher (Theron) and Letty (Rodriguez). The film is to be epic.
Captain Marvel is headed to the Fast & Furious franchise. Brie Larson has been announced as the newest cast member of the high-speed, action franchise. With production for Fast & Furious 10 underway, series star Vin Diesel hit Instagram and revealed Larson’s inclusion.
“Yeah yeah yeah… you see this angel over my shoulder cracking me up, you say to your self ‘that’s captain Marvel.’ Clearly there is love and laughter in this image. What you don’t see however, is the character you will be introduced to in Fast10. You have no idea how timeless and amazing she will be in our mythology. Beyond her beauty, her intellect… her Oscar, haha is this profound soul who will add something you might not have expected but yearned for. Welcome to the FAMILY Brie.”
excited doesn’t even begin to explain how I feel about joining the Fast family thank you for welcoming me in with so much kindness and excitement, @vindiesel.
Previously, Vin Diesel took to Instagram to try to convince The Rock to put their differences aside and reprise his role for the final Fast & Furious movie.
In an interview with CNN, Johnson said that Diesel’s post was “manipulative,” and he did not like how he brought up his children or the late Paul Walker in the post. He added that he spoke with Diesel in private and said that there “was not a chance” that he would return for the final F&F installment.
“I was very surprised by Vin’s recent post. This past June, when Vin and I actually connected not over social media, I told him directly – and privately – that I would not be returning to the franchise. I was firm yet cordial with my words and said that I would always be supportive of the cast and always root for the franchise to be successful, but that there was no chance I would return. I privately spoke with my partners at Universal as well, all of whom were very supportive as they understand the problem.
“Vin’s recent public post was an example of his manipulation. I didn’t like that he brought up his children in the post, as well as Paul Walker’s death. Leave them out of it. We had spoken months ago about this and came to a clear understanding. My goal all along was to end my amazing journey with this incredible ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise with gratitude and grace. It’s unfortunate that this public dialogue has muddied the waters. Regardless, I’m confident in the ‘Fast’ universe and its ability to consistently deliver for the audience, and I truly wish my former co-stars and crew members the best of luck and success in the next chapter.”
New York rapper 50 Cent isn’t playing nice. The hip-hop veteran has come forward to completely rip Fast & Furious icon Vin Diesel over newly leaked shirtless yacht pics. 50 Cent Trashes Vin Diesel Fifty hit up his Instagram page and showed no concern over any body shaming backlash. Instead, the G-Unit boss shared his […]
Diesel confirmed that the next two movies will be the franchise’s finale, and Cardi’s role will be much more than just a cameo. “We are very much excited to evolve her character and to expand it to the finale,” he said. “She made it just in time. She came in Fast 9 just in time.”
In a separate statement, the film’s director Justin Lin had plenty of nice things to say about the newest cast member. “I love Cardi,” he gushed. “I mean, it’s amazing she showed up and within a minute she’s part of the family. And I love how when I got together with her, her and Vin were talking about the character because she’s actually really embedded into the overall universe, she’s been around for a long time and this is just the first time we are seeing her, so I’m really excited to explore that character of her. I’ll work with her any day.”
You can check out Cardi’s role in F9 this Friday, June 25.
Cardi B is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
thank you for welcoming me in with so much kindness and excitement, 
) 
