Summary
TheFast & Furiousfranchise has seen success with a spinoff film before, andFast Xsets up the possibility of what should be their next one inTokyo Drift 2. Their first spinoff movie was 2019’sFast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, which reunited Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham after their on-screen chemistry proved popular in the eighth film of the series,The Fate of the Furious. The spinoff earned over $760 million worldwide, proving the franchise can thrive outside the mainline movies.
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Driftwas the third film in the series, which was released in 2006, starring Lucas Black, Bow Wow (Shad Moss), and Sung Kang. It was an interesting venture for the franchise after Vin Diesel chose not to return for2 Fast 2 Furious, and Paul Walker followed suit for the third entry.Tokyo DrifttooktheFast & Furiousbranding, but told an original story that featured new characters, making it seem as though the franchise was beginning to falter.
However, with a reported budget of $85 million, it still managed to gross $158 million at the worldwide box office, proving popular with fans, even if critics disagreed. The franchise brought back its core characters for the fourth film, beginning to reinvent itself with large-scale spectacles. Still,The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Driftcontinues to be a fan favorite, withFast Xlaying the groundwork for a sequel to their most unique installment.
HowFast XSet Up The Possibility ForTokyo Drift 2
The end ofFast Xteased the return of Gal Gadot as Gisele. She first appeared in the fourth movie, returning for two more sequels, until her character was seemingly killed off at the end ofFast & Furious 6, during the finale on the airport runway. It was a devastating blow for Dom’s crew, especially Sung Kang’s Han, who was in a romantic relationship with her. However,theFast & Furiousfranchiseregularly resurrects dead characters, having brought back previously deceased ones, such as Michelle Rodriguez’s Letty and Han, who was technically revived twice. Han’s most recent return was inF9: The Fast Saga, where it was explained that Mr. Nobody helped him fake his death.
The ending ofFast Xshows a submarine in the Antarctic ice, with Gisele atop it, her eyes set toward rescuing Cipher and Letty from a black site prison. Given that it was a quick tease, no explanation was provided as to how she is alive, though theories suggest that Mr. Nobody helped fake her death, much like he did with Han, or that Cipher might have been the one who saved her. No matter how the franchise chooses to explain Gisele’s return, her presence sets the perfect stage for aFast and the Furious: Tokyo Driftsequel featuring her and Han.
WhyThe Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift 2Is The Right Move For The Franchise
During Gisele and Han’s romance, they talked about howTokyo would be the citywhere they could retire from their criminal ways and live peacefully together. However, Gisele died before they were able to realize their dream together. Han went to Tokyo himself, which led to the events ofThe Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, where he then faked his death. Now that both Han and Gisele have returned, the franchise has the perfect opportunity to give them the happy ending they deserve, and seeing the two together in aTokyo Driftspinoff is the best way to tell the story. While aTokyo Driftsequel would still need action and emotional stakes, it could also give fans the ending they were always promised for Han and Gisele.
Fast X: Part 2is said to be the final installment of the main franchise, but given the IP’s profitability, it is likely to continue in new ways, as it already has with theFast & Furious Crossroadsvideo gameand theFast & Furious Spy Racersanimated series. While the films could take another unique swing with new characters, like they first did withThe Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shawhas proven that focusing on popular characters in their own stories can be the best way forward for the series. Gisele and Han are the perfect characters to focus on in a spinoff, as their relationship resonated with audiences despite being rife with tragedy, making them due for a happy ending in Tokyo.
Beyond Gisele and Han, it would also present an opportunity to bring back Bow Wow and Black’s Sean Boswell, who were last seen inF9: The Fast Saga. Sean mourned Han’s death inThe Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, as the two had become close friends. After Han was revealed to be alive inF9, they only shared a brief moment together, meaning there is more story that could be told between them.
What’s Next For The Fast & Furious Franchise At Large?
Fast X: Part 2is set to be the next installment, with it also slated to be the last. The story is expected to pick up from the cliffhanger ending ofFast X, which leaves the fates of several characters uncertain. Most of the coreFast & Furious castis expected to return, including Diesel, Rodriguez, Kang, Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster, and more. Details about the sequel are under wraps, but filming is expected to start this summer, with Universal targeting a spring 2026 release. Diesel has promised that the film is going back to its roots, teasing Toretto’s Garage on social media and implying that the spectacle could potentially be toned down, which is representative of how the franchise started.
There is also another spinoff in the works withFast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Reyes, which would act as a follow-up toHobbs & Shaw. While details are scarce, Johnson has confirmed that they are developing the film, which would see Jason Momoa’s Dante Reyes,the antagonist ofFast X, seeking revenge against Hobbs for killing his father inFast Five. The franchise is likely to explore further projects followingFast X: Part 2. Although nothing has been announced, it already has the perfect setup for its next great spinoff,The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift 2.
