Universal Pictures has considered making multiple Fast & Furious TV shows as it has looked to expand the $7.4 billion franchise. While the Fast saga has mostly revolved around the 11 movies that have come out, it branched out to the small screen for the first time in 2019 with Netflix’s animated Fast & Furious: Spy Racers, which ran for six seasons.
With that show about Dominic Toretto’s younger cousin (in which Vin Diesel had voice cameos) concluding in 2021, Universal has reportedly been secretly developing three different live-action TV shows set in this franchise. As revealed in Barry Hertz’s new book “Welcome To The Family,” the studio has discussed shows about Roman and Tej, young Dom, and Han over the years.
The book does not reveal who, if anyone, was attached to developing these shows, but they were envisioned as Peacock exclusives as Universal wanted to “bulk up the catalogue” of the streaming “as it struggled to survive the raging streaming wars.” It’s unclear if Universal is still actively working on the concepts or if they’ve been scrapped entirely.
The Roman and Tej show was only described in the book as a “standalone show.” It’s unknown if Tyrese Gibson or Ludacris were ever involved in these early discussions and approached about returning for leading roles.
The young Dom show would’ve continued the flashback timeline seen in F9 and chronicled the franchise lead’s life up until the beginning of The Fast and the Furious. The book notes that it would’ve starred Vinnie Bennett, who played a younger Dom in F9’s flashbacks.
It’s unconfirmed if Bennett did or does have a deal to return for said series. Additionally, it’s not specified if F9’s other younger cast members — Azia Dinea Hale’s Letty, Siena Agudong’s Mia, Karson Kern’s Vince, and Igby Rigney’s Jesse — would return or if those roles would’ve been recast.
Of the three Fast & Furious shows Universal considered, “Welcome To The Family” reveals that the Han-focused show made it the farthest along. Here’s what the book says about its development and plot:
But the most intense development work revolved around a Han series, which would use Diesel’s short film Los Bandoleros as the foundation of a story in which Han comes up against two warring drug cartels. It was conceived as a Yojimbo-like tale that would bring in the character of Cara, Han’s onetime lover, who had helped hijack the land train in Fast 4. The producers were looking at going back to Puerto Rico to shoot, but then the series idea stalled.
Sung Kang presumably would’ve returned to play Han in this series, unless a recast was planned. While the show would’ve built on Los Banderlos and Fast & Furious, it isn’t specified if it would’ve been a prequel show set before Han’s return in F9 or take place afterward.
Neither Universal nor anyone associated with the Fast & Furious franchise has ever discussed these concepts in public, making the revelation that they were (and might still be) in development quite surprising.
The Fast & Furious movies are synonymous with big-budget moviemaking, and a TV show would have to deliver the same level of thrill to meet audiences’ expectations. But, the brand is also large enough that it makes sense for Universal to have kicked the tires on how this saga could improve its streaming service.
Whether any of these shows ever materialize remains to be seen, as Universal may be waiting until the dust settles on Fast 11 before it determines how or if to expand things further. But now that these Fast & Furious TV shows are known ideas floating around, perhaps they’ll gain steam at last.
Movie(s)
The Fast And The Furious, 2 Fast 2 Furious, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Fast & Furious, Fast Five, Fast & Furious 6, Furious 7, The Fate of the Furious, Hobbs and Shaw, F9: The Fast Saga, Fast X, Hobbs and Shaw 2, Fast X: Part 2
Cast
Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Eva Mendes, Lucas Black, Sung Kang, Bow Wow, Jordana Brewster, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, John Cena
Video Game(s)
The Fast and the Furious (2004), The Fast and the Furious (2006), Fast & Furious: SuperCars, Fast & Furious: Showdown, Forza Horizon 2 Presents Fast & Furious, Fast & Furious Crossroads
Character(s)
Dominic Toretto, Brian O’Conner, Letty Ortiz, Roman Pearce, Monica Fuentes, Sean Boswell, Han Lue, Twinkie, Mia Toretto, Luke Hobbs, Deckard Shaw, Cipher, Brixton Lore, Jakob Toretto
Comic Release Date
213284