When the first installment of the movie franchise ‘Fast & Furious’ hit the big screen in 2001; no one had any inkling of what a rollercoaster ride of adrenaline it would turn out to be some 20 years after, spurning eight blockbuster movies that tempted car drivers to test the powers of the engines under the hoods of their cars. For most people, it brought to them the love for fast cars and the desire to own some American muscle cars.
The development of the 2001 ‘Fast and Furious’ came after the Director, Rob Cohen read an article titled ‘Racer X’ in a 1998 edition of ‘Vibe’ magazine about an illegal street racing circuit in New York City. Work began on the movie production in 2000 after Universal Studios gave it the green light; with Paul Walker the first actor to sign on to the project. Vin Diesel, on the other hand, needed a little persuading, only agreeing to the project after proposing several changes of his own to the original script. The first movie in the franchise was an instant blockbuster, grossing over $207.3 million worldwide.
As they say, the rest is history, with 8 movies in the franchise since then, which has seen Dominic Torreto and crew go from small-scale street racer to an international crew that has faced some of the most formidable opponents, with each villain they have had to face upping the ante with each succeeding franchise.
The movie has come with some measure of emotional and psychological trauma as the ‘Fast & Furious’ family lost an integral part of the crew when Paul Walker died in a single-car collision accident in Santa Clarita, California in 2013 at the age of 40 before the release of Fast & Furious 7. His character, Brian O’Conner, received a send-off when at the end of that seventh installment; he drives off in a different path from Vin Diesel’s character, Dominic Torreto, effectively retiring his character from the franchise later installments.
Now, the franchise is back with the latest installment, ‘Fast & Furious 9’ and to use the words of Charlize Theron’s character, the Cypher, in ‘Fast & Furious 8’; “No one is ready for this”. With heart-stopping car jumps, drifts, chase, magnetized cars; ‘Fast & Furious 9’ promises to deliver a massive dose to adrenaline junkies and heart-stopping car chases as Dominic Torreto come face to face with an embittered brother out to humiliate him teaming up with the Cypher, who once again resurfaces after making a skydiving escape in Fast & Furious 8. And did anyone anticipate Han’s return from the dead?
Since the trailer hit the internet, moviegoers are itching to get back into cinema houses to find out how Dominic Torreto resolves the quandary of his longstanding value of never abandoning family against standing with those who have been with him through thick and thin.
Without a doubt, this 9th installment is riddled with a lot of twists and turns to make many of the fans of the franchise too impatient to wait for the official release date of June 25, 2021. But one thing is definitely certain; ‘Fast & Furious 9’ is bound to keep many guessing until it hits the cinemas in Dubai. And when that eventually happens, not a few will be watching on the edge of their seats with racing pulses and screaming with uncontainable excitement.
As a one of the best places to be this summer, Dubai cinemas will no doubt be offering this latest installment across the city and they will all be packed to the rafters. Perhaps, now would be the right time to make sure that you have front row viewing come June 25, 2021.
I guarantee you this, Dubai: You’re not ready for this!
