1 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:11,760 S1: Hey there. I'm Osman Farooqui and welcome to The Drop, 2 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,489 S1: a weekly culture show from the Sydney Morning Herald and 3 00:00:14,490 --> 00:00:16,919 S1: The Age, where we dive into the latest in the 4 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:22,660 S1: world of pop culture and entertainment. This episode of The 5 00:00:22,660 --> 00:00:25,630 S1: Drop is a pretty special one. We've been busy with 6 00:00:25,630 --> 00:00:28,630 S1: our succession recap episodes, but we had to break the 7 00:00:28,630 --> 00:00:32,410 S1: mold for this EP because it features interviews with no 8 00:00:32,409 --> 00:00:36,310 S1: less than three of the most acclaimed actresses in Hollywood. 9 00:00:36,310 --> 00:00:40,300 S1: Charlize Theron, Helen Mirren and Brie Larson have all won 10 00:00:40,300 --> 00:00:43,390 S1: an Oscar, and they also happen to be starring in 11 00:00:43,390 --> 00:00:47,410 S1: Fast Ten, the latest installment in the two decades long, 12 00:00:47,409 --> 00:00:49,540 S1: Fast and Furious franchise. 13 00:00:52,150 --> 00:00:55,180 S2: As I look out at this wonderful family, I am 14 00:00:55,180 --> 00:00:57,730 S2: filled with so much pride. 15 00:01:00,130 --> 00:01:03,070 S3: The Great Dome Trento. If you never would have gotten 16 00:01:03,070 --> 00:01:07,059 S3: behind that wheel, I'd never be the man I am today. 17 00:01:08,530 --> 00:01:11,200 S1: Fast Ten is the first movie in history to feature 18 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:14,949 S1: four Oscar winning actresses alongside the three I mentioned. There's 19 00:01:14,950 --> 00:01:18,580 S1: also the incredible Rita moreno from West Side Story. She 20 00:01:18,580 --> 00:01:22,149 S1: makes her debut in the series in this film. If 21 00:01:22,150 --> 00:01:24,669 S1: that sounds crazy, it's because well, I mean, it is 22 00:01:24,670 --> 00:01:27,369 S1: kind of crazy. I've been a fan of these movies 23 00:01:27,370 --> 00:01:30,009 S1: for a very long time, but even I've been surprised 24 00:01:30,010 --> 00:01:33,400 S1: at how big they've gotten. Collectively, the films have grossed 25 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:37,959 S1: over $10 billion at the box office. The latest film, 26 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:40,929 S1: Boston is supposed to be the beginning of the end 27 00:01:40,930 --> 00:01:43,360 S1: of the series, and it's far and away the biggest yet, 28 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:46,510 S1: at least in terms of pure star power. You can 29 00:01:46,510 --> 00:01:50,140 S1: catch my interviews with Helen, Charlize Brie and the wonderful 30 00:01:50,140 --> 00:01:54,940 S1: Michelle Rodriguez at the second half of this episode. But first, 31 00:01:54,940 --> 00:01:58,420 S1: to help unpack why the Fast and the Furious has 32 00:01:58,420 --> 00:02:01,750 S1: managed to stay so big for so long, I'm joined 33 00:02:01,750 --> 00:02:05,380 S1: by the wonderful Brooke Boney, the news and entertainment presenter 34 00:02:05,380 --> 00:02:08,380 S1: on The Today Show, an all round legend and like me, 35 00:02:08,380 --> 00:02:11,740 S1: a fan of the Fast and Furious films. Brooke, how 36 00:02:11,740 --> 00:02:12,430 S1: are you going? 37 00:02:12,550 --> 00:02:15,160 S4: Well, I'm not in Italy anymore, so that sucks. 38 00:02:15,190 --> 00:02:17,260 S1: We did have a fun time in Italy, didn't we? 39 00:02:17,710 --> 00:02:21,310 S4: It's just so beautiful. Like it was the perfect location 40 00:02:21,310 --> 00:02:24,700 S4: for a film premiere because the whole thing was like 41 00:02:24,700 --> 00:02:25,480 S4: a film set. 42 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:27,970 S1: Yeah. And you were on the red carpet, which was 43 00:02:27,970 --> 00:02:30,400 S1: actually at the Coliseum, which must have been like a 44 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,880 S1: once in a lifetime sort of wacky, wacky moment. 45 00:02:34,210 --> 00:02:38,169 S4: It was surreal because, you know, like, there's this car there. 46 00:02:38,169 --> 00:02:40,119 S4: And then I look to one side and Helen Mirren 47 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:41,609 S4: was there. And then I looked at the other side. 48 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:44,920 S4: Jason Statham was there. And then behind them both was 49 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:49,059 S4: the Colosseum. And I was like, Where am I? What 50 00:02:49,210 --> 00:02:51,400 S4: is this job? What is this life? 51 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,519 S1: I think you told me that like this, the idea 52 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:57,610 S1: of having this media event premiere in Rome was something that, 53 00:02:57,610 --> 00:03:00,399 S1: like Vin Diesel himself was really keen on pushing for. 54 00:03:00,730 --> 00:03:03,160 S4: Yeah, well, when I had my one on one with him, 55 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:05,740 S4: he was like, Oh. So I pitched it to them 56 00:03:05,740 --> 00:03:08,500 S4: that we would have like this huge world premiere in 57 00:03:08,500 --> 00:03:11,860 S4: Rome and that we'd have the the premiere itself at 58 00:03:11,860 --> 00:03:14,399 S4: the Colosseum. And he's like, And they went for it. 59 00:03:14,410 --> 00:03:16,780 S4: Can you believe it? Like, you just sort of feel 60 00:03:16,780 --> 00:03:19,570 S4: like whatever Vin Diesel wants, though, Vin Diesel gets. 61 00:03:19,780 --> 00:03:22,540 S1: He is blurred the line between him and his character 62 00:03:22,540 --> 00:03:25,270 S1: Dominic Toretto. I feel like they are the same person now. 63 00:03:25,270 --> 00:03:27,820 S1: His ability to just like push forward and get whatever 64 00:03:27,820 --> 00:03:30,730 S1: he wants is so ridiculous and over-the-top. Well. 65 00:03:31,180 --> 00:03:33,490 S4: Did you I think you said to me like, did 66 00:03:33,490 --> 00:03:37,090 S4: you notice how they use Vin and Dom interchangeably? And 67 00:03:37,090 --> 00:03:39,010 S4: I didn't at first. But then once I thought about it, 68 00:03:39,010 --> 00:03:41,380 S4: I was like, Yeah, they do. They call him Dom. 69 00:03:41,710 --> 00:03:44,050 S1: And hearing him talk about the cars, like he talks 70 00:03:44,050 --> 00:03:48,520 S1: about Jordan Brewster, who plays his sister in the films 71 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,580 S1: he calls her his sister. In real life, I don't 72 00:03:51,580 --> 00:03:55,180 S1: think he knows anymore that there is a film. Dom 73 00:03:55,180 --> 00:03:57,010 S1: And then there is a real life. Vin I think 74 00:03:57,010 --> 00:03:58,870 S1: these things have kind of combined. 75 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:02,830 S4: They've probably been doing these movies for like half of his. 76 00:04:02,830 --> 00:04:05,140 S1: Life, more than half of his life, totally. And they 77 00:04:05,140 --> 00:04:08,500 S1: are easily the biggest thing in his life and the 78 00:04:08,500 --> 00:04:11,980 S1: lives of most of the actors. We're going to talk 79 00:04:11,980 --> 00:04:15,880 S1: about these films generally and their broad cultural impact. And 80 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:18,520 S1: we're also going to dive into the most recent film, which, 81 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:21,130 S1: as we mentioned, had its premiere in Rome Fast ten. 82 00:04:21,130 --> 00:04:22,990 S1: But I want to start with like more of a 83 00:04:22,990 --> 00:04:26,380 S1: straightforward question, Brooke. The franchise is obviously so big now, 84 00:04:26,380 --> 00:04:29,589 S1: but it's so interesting to think about how it started 85 00:04:29,589 --> 00:04:33,550 S1: back in 2001 is this really humble story of street 86 00:04:33,550 --> 00:04:38,080 S1: races robbing trucks for like knock off VHS players and 87 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:42,100 S1: small little Panasonic TVs. Well, we're now up to ten. 88 00:04:42,100 --> 00:04:46,210 S1: And like we've seen the franchise race, a nuclear armed submarine. 89 00:04:46,210 --> 00:04:49,420 S1: We've seen them go into space in the ninth film. 90 00:04:50,330 --> 00:04:54,020 S1: What explains like the staying power of this franchise and 91 00:04:54,020 --> 00:04:56,690 S1: how it just keeps getting bigger and bigger in your view? 92 00:04:57,170 --> 00:05:00,469 S4: You know, you look back at those early movies and 93 00:05:00,470 --> 00:05:03,020 S4: they've obviously never seen those Australian government ads that piracy 94 00:05:03,020 --> 00:05:05,210 S4: is a crime, you know, then they would have known 95 00:05:05,210 --> 00:05:07,130 S4: they would have been deterred if only they'd had those 96 00:05:07,610 --> 00:05:08,690 S4: ads playing in. 97 00:05:08,690 --> 00:05:11,060 S1: You wouldn't steal a VHS player Don't was like, Yeah, 98 00:05:11,070 --> 00:05:11,450 S1: well you. 99 00:05:11,450 --> 00:05:14,240 S4: Would if you dumped her at Oh that's the I 100 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:18,109 S4: think the really interesting thing about this franchise is the 101 00:05:18,110 --> 00:05:20,990 S4: people who love it really, really love it. And I 102 00:05:20,990 --> 00:05:22,789 S4: think the reason for that is that they've sort of 103 00:05:22,790 --> 00:05:25,490 S4: brought them along for the ride, pardon the pun. You know, 104 00:05:25,490 --> 00:05:27,859 S4: like it started out as this movie about like a 105 00:05:27,860 --> 00:05:29,900 S4: bunch of kids, you know, from the wrong side of 106 00:05:29,900 --> 00:05:32,810 S4: the tracks who were, you know, stealing cars and doing 107 00:05:32,810 --> 00:05:34,430 S4: all this stuff with these, you know, like hotted up, 108 00:05:34,430 --> 00:05:37,190 S4: drag race things. And people love that for that time 109 00:05:37,190 --> 00:05:40,250 S4: and place. And then as like people's taste in movies 110 00:05:40,250 --> 00:05:44,210 S4: evolved and like the style of the day evolved, so 111 00:05:44,210 --> 00:05:47,060 S4: did the fast franchise, you know, like then heist movies 112 00:05:47,060 --> 00:05:49,250 S4: became more popular, so that sort of became an element 113 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:52,070 S4: in the movies, you know, movies about spying. And the 114 00:05:52,070 --> 00:05:56,089 S4: government became popular. And so they incorporated that things to 115 00:05:56,089 --> 00:05:59,690 S4: do with space like, you know, the final frontier that 116 00:05:59,690 --> 00:06:01,400 S4: becomes popular. And so then they find a way to 117 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:05,120 S4: incorporate that and they never leave their audience behind or 118 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:07,250 S4: think they're better than their audience. And so I think 119 00:06:07,250 --> 00:06:10,070 S4: that that's why they're so successful, because even if you 120 00:06:10,070 --> 00:06:12,500 S4: look at this movie, like it still has a drag 121 00:06:12,500 --> 00:06:13,159 S4: race in it. 122 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:14,330 S1: Yeah, totally. 123 00:06:14,420 --> 00:06:16,970 S4: It's a movie about like, them trying to stop, like 124 00:06:16,970 --> 00:06:21,020 S4: global terrorism, basically. And, you know, there's this huge bomb 125 00:06:21,020 --> 00:06:24,560 S4: rolling through Rome, but you still get a drag race scene. 126 00:06:24,650 --> 00:06:27,440 S4: And so, like the people who love those original movies 127 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:30,980 S4: with cars and like the family vibe, they get all 128 00:06:30,980 --> 00:06:34,310 S4: of that plus whatever the flavor of the day is. 129 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:36,619 S1: That's a really, really smart way of putting it. I 130 00:06:36,620 --> 00:06:39,320 S1: hadn't really thought about in those terms before how they've 131 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:43,100 S1: been able to adapt and evolve with what audience expectations are. 132 00:06:43,100 --> 00:06:45,529 S1: You know, like when the Bourne franchise gets really big, 133 00:06:45,529 --> 00:06:48,200 S1: when Mission Impossible gets rebooted and comes back with that 134 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:52,370 S1: kind of action kind of comedy bent, these movies managed 135 00:06:52,370 --> 00:06:55,520 S1: to fit into that mold and feel very contemporary and 136 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,700 S1: of like whatever the now is of these kinds of films. 137 00:06:58,700 --> 00:07:01,700 S1: But if you were there from day one and you 138 00:07:01,700 --> 00:07:04,460 S1: just wanted to see a couple of like, like you said, 139 00:07:04,460 --> 00:07:07,040 S1: people from the wrong side of the tracks race hotted up, 140 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:11,870 S1: Mustangs and Mitsubishi Lances, It delivers for that as well. 141 00:07:11,870 --> 00:07:14,300 S1: And I think it seems simple to say it, but 142 00:07:14,300 --> 00:07:17,330 S1: to actually pull it off and to have scenes where, 143 00:07:17,450 --> 00:07:19,970 S1: you know, the space thing I think was kind of ludicrous, 144 00:07:19,970 --> 00:07:22,610 S1: but it felt self-aware as well. I feel like every 145 00:07:22,610 --> 00:07:25,550 S1: time the films push the boundaries a bit and I 146 00:07:25,550 --> 00:07:27,770 S1: think if you haven't seen them and you're not into them, 147 00:07:27,770 --> 00:07:29,330 S1: you look at them from the outside and you think, 148 00:07:29,330 --> 00:07:31,700 S1: these movies are ridiculous, and how do they expect anyone 149 00:07:31,700 --> 00:07:34,430 S1: to take themselves seriously? I think on one hand they 150 00:07:34,430 --> 00:07:38,750 S1: are very serious and emotionally impactful films, but I also 151 00:07:38,750 --> 00:07:41,270 S1: think that when they do that wacky stuff, they know 152 00:07:41,270 --> 00:07:43,280 S1: that they're having fun with the audience, basically. Right? 153 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:45,020 S4: Totally. I just want to touch on that One thing 154 00:07:45,020 --> 00:07:48,920 S4: that you said there about like them doing a particular thing. 155 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:50,630 S4: Like I think that that's part of the magic as 156 00:07:50,630 --> 00:07:55,820 S4: well is like people who watched those early movies and 157 00:07:55,820 --> 00:07:58,160 S4: saw themselves in those characters. Like maybe they feel like 158 00:07:58,160 --> 00:07:59,900 S4: they're from the wrong side of the tracks. Maybe they 159 00:07:59,900 --> 00:08:03,950 S4: feel like they're working class and they they see themselves win. Like, 160 00:08:03,950 --> 00:08:06,200 S4: that's a nice feeling, you know? It's not like rich 161 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:08,360 S4: guys winning or it's not like the, you know, the 162 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,690 S4: one percenters. Like finally they get to see themselves, like 163 00:08:11,690 --> 00:08:14,390 S4: get one up over over the man. And I think 164 00:08:14,390 --> 00:08:18,620 S4: that there's something really quite earnest and quite lovely about that. 165 00:08:18,620 --> 00:08:20,060 S4: And that's what makes people relate to it. 166 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:23,780 S1: There's also a real like a cab anti cop element 167 00:08:23,780 --> 00:08:26,030 S1: to these films, right? Like the first one starts with 168 00:08:26,030 --> 00:08:29,390 S1: Paul Walker as a police officer, ending up ditching the 169 00:08:29,390 --> 00:08:32,750 S1: cops to ride with Dominic Toretto. And it's you know, 170 00:08:32,750 --> 00:08:36,980 S1: there's a message there of family and friendship and loyalty. 171 00:08:36,980 --> 00:08:39,980 S1: And even if, like the law is being broken in 172 00:08:39,980 --> 00:08:43,460 S1: a way that matters more than like sticking up for 173 00:08:43,460 --> 00:08:46,640 S1: this arbitrary set of rules that seem designed in these 174 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:49,309 S1: movies again and again to protect the rich and powerful. 175 00:08:49,309 --> 00:08:53,870 S1: Like we see rich and powerful people, billionaires side with 176 00:08:53,870 --> 00:08:58,010 S1: corrupt police against our kind of like every man group 177 00:08:58,010 --> 00:09:01,010 S1: of rebels. I think that's a really interesting part of 178 00:09:01,010 --> 00:09:01,730 S1: it as well. 179 00:09:02,059 --> 00:09:04,820 S4: I love how part of the charm of it is like, 180 00:09:04,820 --> 00:09:06,650 S4: you know, when they do come up against a bad 181 00:09:06,650 --> 00:09:09,050 S4: guy who's like part of the 1% or part of 182 00:09:09,050 --> 00:09:11,750 S4: the government or part of the enemy or whatever, they 183 00:09:11,750 --> 00:09:13,939 S4: win them over by being like, Hey, guess what's more 184 00:09:13,940 --> 00:09:17,870 S4: important than any of this family? Yeah, totally. So wait, 185 00:09:17,870 --> 00:09:20,270 S4: it's so sweet. It's like we don't have anything else, 186 00:09:20,270 --> 00:09:22,939 S4: but we've got family, you know? And that's how they 187 00:09:22,940 --> 00:09:24,200 S4: win them over is with love. 188 00:09:24,380 --> 00:09:27,140 S1: Totally. I want to ask you, when you first, like, 189 00:09:27,140 --> 00:09:29,330 S1: really fell in love with these films for me, I 190 00:09:29,330 --> 00:09:32,780 S1: actually I'm not sure I saw the first film in cinemas. 191 00:09:32,780 --> 00:09:34,250 S1: I think I would have been like 10 or 11 192 00:09:34,250 --> 00:09:36,260 S1: at the time. But I have this really vivid memory 193 00:09:36,260 --> 00:09:40,070 S1: of watching at the movies that show with Margaret Pomeranz, 194 00:09:40,070 --> 00:09:41,870 S1: David Stratton, the kind of movie critics, because I was 195 00:09:41,870 --> 00:09:44,450 S1: a huge nerd as a kid and it sort of 196 00:09:44,450 --> 00:09:46,760 S1: burned into my brain. I thought these were two kind 197 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:49,550 S1: of stuffy, older, boring critics, and they were discussing the. 198 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:53,050 S1: Cannes film two, Fast two Furious. And I remember Margaret 199 00:09:53,050 --> 00:09:55,280 S1: giving it four and a half stars out of five. 200 00:09:55,300 --> 00:09:57,729 S1: She was just like, This movie is crazy, but it's 201 00:09:57,730 --> 00:10:00,790 S1: so fun. And like, David just was having none of it. 202 00:10:00,790 --> 00:10:04,090 S1: And she said, It's great. Tyrese Gibson rules Paul Walker. 203 00:10:04,090 --> 00:10:05,559 S1: Maybe it's not the world's best actor, but there's a 204 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:08,020 S1: great chemistry there. The stunts were amazing. I was like, Man, 205 00:10:08,020 --> 00:10:09,760 S1: if this is good enough for Margaret Pomeranz, it's good 206 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:12,130 S1: enough for me. I gave it a go and from 207 00:10:12,130 --> 00:10:14,740 S1: that point on I was like totally sold rewatched. The 208 00:10:14,740 --> 00:10:17,200 S1: first one went to the movies to watch Tokyo Drift 209 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:20,230 S1: and has have been there ever since. Do you have 210 00:10:20,230 --> 00:10:22,660 S1: a memory or a moment where you realize that you're 211 00:10:22,660 --> 00:10:23,589 S1: in with this franchise? 212 00:10:24,010 --> 00:10:25,660 S4: Well, I loved the first one as well, the same 213 00:10:25,660 --> 00:10:27,370 S4: as everyone. You know, like I remember watching it as 214 00:10:27,370 --> 00:10:29,380 S4: a teenager and being like, oh my gosh, this is 215 00:10:29,380 --> 00:10:32,380 S4: so cool. Like, Jordan Brewster is so pretty. Michelle Rodriguez 216 00:10:32,410 --> 00:10:35,290 S4: is so tough. You know, like the same as every 217 00:10:35,290 --> 00:10:38,200 S4: other kid thought. Then I was living with a friend 218 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:43,059 S4: in Bondi and his girlfriend was in Tokyo. Drift Well, wow. 219 00:10:43,179 --> 00:10:45,790 S4: So we watched it because we were like, Oh my gosh. 220 00:10:45,820 --> 00:10:49,089 S1: She was like the Australian girl in Tokyo. DRIFT Yeah. Wow. 221 00:10:49,090 --> 00:10:51,130 S1: You lived with her boyfriend. What a great this is 222 00:10:51,130 --> 00:10:52,150 S1: a great little fact for this. 223 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:53,650 S5: Because she lived with us for a little while. 224 00:10:53,650 --> 00:10:55,330 S4: Too. So we watched it and we were like, Oh 225 00:10:55,330 --> 00:10:57,790 S4: my God, that's in this. This is so sweet. And 226 00:10:57,790 --> 00:11:00,880 S4: so like, I sort of re-engaged with it then. And 227 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,790 S4: then I went on a junket to Miami to see 228 00:11:03,790 --> 00:11:05,950 S4: F9 or Fast Nine or whatever the title of it 229 00:11:05,950 --> 00:11:09,939 S4: was for the trailer release, just doing the interviews with 230 00:11:09,940 --> 00:11:12,760 S4: them and talking to them and being engaged with it. 231 00:11:13,450 --> 00:11:15,939 S4: I wanted to be cynical of it and I wanted 232 00:11:15,940 --> 00:11:19,660 S4: to be like, Oh, you know, this isn't my cup 233 00:11:19,660 --> 00:11:22,450 S4: of tea, but I can appreciate how other people like it, 234 00:11:22,690 --> 00:11:25,210 S4: but it's too hard not to get swept up in 235 00:11:25,210 --> 00:11:28,360 S4: it because it all feels so genuine. 236 00:11:28,809 --> 00:11:31,329 S1: I feel like a lunatic and a lot of people 237 00:11:31,330 --> 00:11:34,360 S1: accuse me of being a lunatic for talking very earnestly 238 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:38,319 S1: about how like, great. I do think you have to 239 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:41,380 S1: hate fun to not enjoy these movies, but like I am, 240 00:11:41,380 --> 00:11:42,880 S1: I am a bit too deep on them. If you 241 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:45,040 S1: actually if you Google my name and like the Fast 242 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:47,679 S1: and Furious, it comes up with this ABC interview I 243 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:50,050 S1: don't remember doing where I compared one of the movies 244 00:11:50,050 --> 00:11:52,210 S1: to like The Godfather two, which is one of my 245 00:11:52,210 --> 00:11:54,640 S1: favorite movies ever, man. But but I think I think 246 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:57,640 S1: it's like, yeah, just accepting them for what they are 247 00:11:57,640 --> 00:11:59,440 S1: and realizing that you're going to go in, you're going 248 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:01,960 S1: to see some of the greatest stunt sequences ever. You're 249 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:04,600 S1: going to see one of the best and most charismatic 250 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,750 S1: cast ever assembled, and you're going to have fun and like, 251 00:12:07,750 --> 00:12:11,560 S1: don't don't expect more from them or don't try to 252 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:15,699 S1: compare them to something grittier or something something weirder, just 253 00:12:15,700 --> 00:12:18,100 S1: like accept them for what they are. Kick back and 254 00:12:18,100 --> 00:12:21,010 S1: have a good time. Like that's what cinema is about, right? 255 00:12:21,309 --> 00:12:23,199 S4: It just is what it is. It's, you know, like 256 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:26,079 S4: it's escapism, isn't it? You know, you can suspend disbelief 257 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:28,630 S4: for a few hours while you go in there and 258 00:12:28,630 --> 00:12:30,010 S4: they shoot a car into space. 259 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:33,459 S5: Like, it's just a pretty lovely experience. 260 00:12:33,940 --> 00:12:36,400 S1: We talked a bit about this, the start of the conversation. 261 00:12:36,490 --> 00:12:38,680 S1: You and I spent a bit of time last week 262 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:42,010 S1: talking to most of the cast of these movies and 263 00:12:42,010 --> 00:12:44,979 S1: most of the cast of Fast Ten. And one of 264 00:12:44,980 --> 00:12:47,980 S1: the things that really stuck out to me was the 265 00:12:47,980 --> 00:12:52,599 S1: reverence everyone has. Vivian like he is. He's the star 266 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:54,760 S1: of these movies. He's also one of the producers. It's 267 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:57,459 S1: really interesting to think back to the first few because 268 00:12:57,460 --> 00:12:59,979 S1: he actually was only in one of the first three movies. 269 00:12:59,980 --> 00:13:03,189 S1: He wasn't into Fast and Furious. He wasn't in Tokyo Drift. 270 00:13:03,190 --> 00:13:05,439 S1: Those movies still were really popular. Any kind of comes 271 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:08,709 S1: back for four, and then from five onwards, the movies 272 00:13:08,710 --> 00:13:11,230 S1: just sort of, you know, kick up a notch. And 273 00:13:11,230 --> 00:13:13,960 S1: he's the driving force. He also seems to be like 274 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:17,770 S1: a de facto scriptwriter, director, kind of a showrunner on 275 00:13:17,770 --> 00:13:21,280 S1: these things. How significantly you've spoken to him a couple 276 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:24,970 S1: of times now over the years. How significant is his 277 00:13:24,970 --> 00:13:26,679 S1: role and what do you think it is about him 278 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:30,160 S1: that makes this franchise so long staying? 279 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:32,130 S4: Well, because I think I've interviewed him probably 3 or 280 00:13:32,130 --> 00:13:36,820 S4: 4 times and. It's really interesting because, again, like, you 281 00:13:36,820 --> 00:13:38,790 S4: want to be cynical about these things. 282 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:41,319 S1: Yeah, like a healthy skepticism. Like what? Journalists, right? Like, 283 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:42,939 S1: we like the movies, but we don't want to just 284 00:13:42,940 --> 00:13:44,140 S1: be sycophants about it. 285 00:13:44,140 --> 00:13:46,480 S4: Yeah, exactly. But then you talk to him and he 286 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,179 S4: is like the dad of the franchise. And I think 287 00:13:49,179 --> 00:13:52,720 S4: that the way that everyone speaks about him with this reverence, 288 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:54,610 S4: like he goes out of his way to make everyone 289 00:13:54,610 --> 00:13:57,970 S4: feel comfortable and part of the team. But I think 290 00:13:57,970 --> 00:14:01,300 S4: as well, like for him to be involved from the 291 00:14:01,300 --> 00:14:04,750 S4: very beginning and he was like, you know, in like 292 00:14:04,750 --> 00:14:08,980 S4: a broader social context, he's like this masculine archetype, you know, 293 00:14:08,980 --> 00:14:11,319 S4: Like I remember guys thinking that he was like the coolest. 294 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:12,969 S4: You know, he's got a leather jacket. He's driving a 295 00:14:12,970 --> 00:14:15,610 S4: fast car. He's got two girls, you know, like great guys. 296 00:14:15,610 --> 00:14:19,540 S4: That's something. But he's so progressive in so many ways. 297 00:14:19,540 --> 00:14:23,620 S4: Like he centers the women's stories without making them just 298 00:14:23,620 --> 00:14:28,090 S4: a in addition to the male characters, he's really sensitive. 299 00:14:28,090 --> 00:14:30,400 S4: Like he's really quite sensitive. Like he talks a lot 300 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:34,450 S4: about love and a lot about trust and and friendship, 301 00:14:34,540 --> 00:14:38,320 S4: like mateship and relationships. So, you know, I think that 302 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:41,950 S4: that's why and I actually do think it's genuine, you know, 303 00:14:42,370 --> 00:14:45,490 S4: I mean, there's obviously no way for us to be 100% 304 00:14:45,490 --> 00:14:47,290 S4: sure about that. And I'm sure that no one is 305 00:14:47,290 --> 00:14:51,130 S4: one thing 100% of the time. But it does seem 306 00:14:51,130 --> 00:14:53,200 S4: to me that the reason that he has such a 307 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:56,560 S4: good and strong reputation among the cohort is because he 308 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:59,980 S4: is that guy like he he's Dom and Dom is him. 309 00:15:00,190 --> 00:15:03,550 S4: And so while he's masculine, he's soft. He's the dad, 310 00:15:03,550 --> 00:15:05,680 S4: He's the one who looks after everyone. He's the one 311 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:08,109 S4: who makes sure that, you know, like people get to 312 00:15:08,110 --> 00:15:09,729 S4: do the things that they want to do and don't 313 00:15:09,730 --> 00:15:11,530 S4: have to do the things that they don't want to do. 314 00:15:11,620 --> 00:15:14,830 S4: And I think that that's a pretty unique experience in 315 00:15:14,830 --> 00:15:15,910 S4: in Hollywood. 316 00:15:16,030 --> 00:15:18,550 S1: Yeah. For an action film star, for sure. It's so 317 00:15:18,550 --> 00:15:23,170 S1: interesting that point about how he has embedded like women 318 00:15:23,170 --> 00:15:26,110 S1: at the center of this franchise. Like from day one, 319 00:15:26,110 --> 00:15:30,370 S1: you talk to Michelle Rodriguez and she gives him all 320 00:15:30,370 --> 00:15:33,040 S1: the credit for putting her at the center of it 321 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:36,160 S1: and talks about his complete lack of ego. And even 322 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:38,680 S1: though he has this masculinity, he's so confident in it, 323 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,110 S1: like Michelle had been in Girl Fight, which is like 324 00:15:41,110 --> 00:15:45,340 S1: this indie boxing drama. I really loved her in the 325 00:15:45,340 --> 00:15:47,170 S1: Fast and Furious. The first one, I loved her in 326 00:15:47,170 --> 00:15:48,790 S1: Blue Crush, which I think came out a couple of 327 00:15:48,790 --> 00:15:51,160 S1: years later. And she, like you, go back to the 328 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:56,020 S1: early 2000, that was so few women who were given compelling, 329 00:15:56,020 --> 00:15:59,650 S1: well-written characters with all sorts of different dynamics and relationships 330 00:15:59,650 --> 00:16:02,590 S1: and friendships that weren't just centered around a love interest 331 00:16:02,590 --> 00:16:06,070 S1: and got to have like kickass fight scenes with guys 332 00:16:06,070 --> 00:16:09,430 S1: and with other women. And speaking to Helen Mirren about 333 00:16:09,430 --> 00:16:11,530 S1: this most because believe it or not, Dame Helen Mirren 334 00:16:11,530 --> 00:16:14,860 S1: is in these movies as well. She credits Vin for 335 00:16:14,860 --> 00:16:17,560 S1: not only bringing her into the franchise, but for giving 336 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:22,540 S1: her as a older 77 year old woman fun things 337 00:16:22,540 --> 00:16:25,450 S1: to do, like drive fun cars and do cool stunts. 338 00:16:25,450 --> 00:16:28,840 S1: He's brought in Rita moreno, who's 91 years old, right 339 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:31,300 S1: into this franchise. And he and he's not doing it 340 00:16:31,300 --> 00:16:33,610 S1: because I think this is Helen's point. He's not doing 341 00:16:33,610 --> 00:16:36,070 S1: it to tick a box because it's like the right 342 00:16:36,070 --> 00:16:39,100 S1: thing to do. He genuinely cares about this stuff. I 343 00:16:39,100 --> 00:16:42,220 S1: think the other really interesting thing about about Vin and 344 00:16:42,220 --> 00:16:44,710 S1: I'm curious as to your kind of takes on this 345 00:16:44,710 --> 00:16:49,120 S1: is he's had creative tension as well with this franchise 346 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:51,940 S1: like there have been reports that him and the Rock 347 00:16:51,940 --> 00:16:53,710 S1: didn't get along, which is why The Rock is no 348 00:16:53,710 --> 00:16:56,560 S1: longer a part of these movies. Justin Lin, who directed 349 00:16:56,560 --> 00:16:58,750 S1: Tokyo Drift and some of the best films in the 350 00:16:58,750 --> 00:17:02,020 S1: franchise he was originally supposed to be directing Fast Ten, 351 00:17:02,020 --> 00:17:05,740 S1: but he sort of fell off again due to reported 352 00:17:05,740 --> 00:17:08,530 S1: creative differences with Vin. But the studio keeps backing Vin 353 00:17:08,530 --> 00:17:10,450 S1: and it doesn't seem to be steering them in the 354 00:17:10,450 --> 00:17:13,119 S1: wrong direction. I do kind of miss the rock a 355 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:15,190 S1: little bit. I'm a bit sad about that not working 356 00:17:15,190 --> 00:17:17,050 S1: and I thought he was a fun part of these movies. 357 00:17:17,050 --> 00:17:17,800 S1: What do you think? 358 00:17:18,100 --> 00:17:19,540 S4: Yeah, I think The Rock is a fun part of 359 00:17:19,540 --> 00:17:23,350 S4: the movies, but I think to talk about Dame Helen Mirren, 360 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:26,619 S4: how funny is it that we're just referencing conversations that 361 00:17:26,619 --> 00:17:29,619 S4: we've had with her? When spoke to her, she said 362 00:17:30,490 --> 00:17:34,630 S4: she said that the reason that the earlier movies feel 363 00:17:34,630 --> 00:17:37,150 S4: so contemporary now, like you can watch them and they're 364 00:17:37,150 --> 00:17:41,650 S4: really watchable and really easy is because they did have 365 00:17:41,650 --> 00:17:45,520 S4: so much diversity. So like it doesn't look really dated 366 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:48,070 S4: like other movies from 25 years ago where you're like, Wow, 367 00:17:48,070 --> 00:17:51,700 S4: everyone's this is all white people. This is all white 368 00:17:51,700 --> 00:17:55,240 S4: people talking about white people. Stuff like she said that 369 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:58,450 S4: I think that was sort of unprompted. So like they 370 00:17:58,450 --> 00:18:01,240 S4: all sort of realize the power that he has in 371 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:03,850 S4: pulling together a team and respect that. So like, if 372 00:18:03,850 --> 00:18:07,350 S4: the studio is looking at, you know, his history of 373 00:18:07,580 --> 00:18:11,170 S4: of the decisions that he's made for the franchise, that 374 00:18:11,170 --> 00:18:15,310 S4: would have been quite revolutionary in their time, like quite 375 00:18:15,310 --> 00:18:18,790 S4: out of the ordinary at least. Of course you know 376 00:18:18,790 --> 00:18:20,560 S4: you're going to back him any day of the week 377 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:23,350 S4: because he has such a strong history with it. You 378 00:18:23,350 --> 00:18:26,889 S4: can't think of the fast franchise and not think of 379 00:18:26,890 --> 00:18:29,110 S4: Vin Diesel 100%. 380 00:18:29,109 --> 00:18:32,020 S1: I mean, similarly, Alan Ritchson, who a lot of people 381 00:18:32,020 --> 00:18:33,960 S1: might not know, he most recently starred in the. Amazon 382 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:37,260 S1: Prime series Reacher. I actually know him from this really 383 00:18:37,260 --> 00:18:39,570 S1: weird kind of comedy set in a frat house called 384 00:18:39,570 --> 00:18:43,650 S1: Blue Mountain State. He's like the quintessential Hollywood blonde haired, 385 00:18:43,650 --> 00:18:46,890 S1: blue eyed hunk. Right? He plays like a really strong, 386 00:18:46,890 --> 00:18:49,530 S1: tough character in this movie. Again, unprompted to me when 387 00:18:49,530 --> 00:18:51,899 S1: I asked him about this franchise is staying power. He 388 00:18:51,900 --> 00:18:55,050 S1: said it's the diversity from day one before it was 389 00:18:55,050 --> 00:18:58,110 S1: seen as the quote unquote right thing to do. It 390 00:18:58,260 --> 00:19:02,070 S1: felt like the real world. And that is why these 391 00:19:02,070 --> 00:19:05,280 S1: movies have attracted such a wide range of audiences. Tyrese 392 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:07,980 S1: Gibson I mean, he said something that I said it 393 00:19:07,980 --> 00:19:09,840 S1: very honestly, but I had to laugh a little bit. 394 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:13,500 S1: He said, These movies are like the Dr. Martin Luther 395 00:19:13,500 --> 00:19:17,490 S1: King Junior speech equivalent of of film. He said. They're 396 00:19:17,490 --> 00:19:21,090 S1: so diverse. They have interracial relationships, which I actually think 397 00:19:21,090 --> 00:19:23,610 S1: is an understated point about these things. Like we talk 398 00:19:23,609 --> 00:19:26,700 S1: about diversity on screen now, but it's pretty rare to 399 00:19:26,700 --> 00:19:31,409 S1: see multiple different kinds of interracial intercultural relationships in an 400 00:19:31,410 --> 00:19:34,470 S1: action movie franchise where it's just accepted. And that's what 401 00:19:34,470 --> 00:19:36,840 S1: the world is like. And I think I think he 402 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:38,340 S1: is right. And when you go to these movies, when 403 00:19:38,340 --> 00:19:42,570 S1: you sit in theaters, they certainly feel like comfortable and familiar. 404 00:19:42,570 --> 00:19:45,300 S1: I think to people like me, compared to so many 405 00:19:45,300 --> 00:19:46,320 S1: other movies. 406 00:19:46,859 --> 00:19:48,480 S4: The one thing that he said to me as well, 407 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:50,310 S4: to sort of hark back to what we were saying 408 00:19:50,310 --> 00:19:53,100 S4: about Ben is that Ben insisted that he bring his 409 00:19:53,100 --> 00:19:56,070 S4: kids on set on a particular day. He's like, Oh, 410 00:19:56,070 --> 00:19:58,200 S4: my kids are going to come. You bring your kids 411 00:19:58,200 --> 00:19:59,879 S4: or we'll send a car to go get your kids 412 00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:01,890 S4: and they can come and play. And then also, did 413 00:20:01,890 --> 00:20:04,920 S4: you see like further to that, did you see Charlize 414 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:07,530 S4: Theron's girls running around the hallways? I did. 415 00:20:07,530 --> 00:20:09,570 S1: I did. I feel like they they take the family 416 00:20:09,570 --> 00:20:12,480 S1: thing really seriously. It's like we're doing a junket in Rome. 417 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:14,010 S1: But like everyone bringing your kids are all gonna have 418 00:20:14,010 --> 00:20:16,680 S1: a good time. And that was certainly like the vibe 419 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:19,439 S1: we got when you consider like 18 of the world's 420 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:23,550 S1: biggest movie stars working on a movie together, hanging out together, 421 00:20:23,550 --> 00:20:27,389 S1: doing media stuff and all seemingly actually enjoying each other's company, 422 00:20:27,390 --> 00:20:30,840 S1: it seems to be why the movies feel so natural 423 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:33,810 S1: and so fun because there is a real chemistry with 424 00:20:33,810 --> 00:20:53,700 S1: with all of these people. Let's talk about the most 425 00:20:53,700 --> 00:20:56,909 S1: recent film Fast Ten. I mean, there's a crazy stat. 426 00:20:56,910 --> 00:20:58,649 S1: I was going to surprise you with it, but then 427 00:20:58,650 --> 00:21:01,169 S1: I realized that I've been yelling at you every day 428 00:21:01,170 --> 00:21:04,290 S1: for the past week. But this movie, Fast Ten, is 429 00:21:04,290 --> 00:21:09,510 S1: the first film in history to feature four Oscar winning actresses. 430 00:21:09,510 --> 00:21:12,720 S1: That seems crazy to me. Like, did you expect it 431 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:13,889 S1: in this franchise? 432 00:21:14,700 --> 00:21:17,790 S4: No, I didn't. And again, it's because you look at 433 00:21:17,790 --> 00:21:21,750 S4: it and anyone who's listening to this and who isn't like, Oh, 434 00:21:22,050 --> 00:21:24,990 S4: with the fast franchise or thinks that there may be 435 00:21:24,990 --> 00:21:27,420 S4: a bit too smart or a bit to something to 436 00:21:27,420 --> 00:21:30,720 S4: watch them, like you look at it and you think, oh, 437 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:33,359 S4: you know, I would never expect all of these really 438 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:36,180 S4: progressive things to come out of this sort of franchise. 439 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:40,680 S4: But it does and it's intentional. And it's so interesting 440 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:43,770 S4: that you that you look at the people that they're 441 00:21:43,770 --> 00:21:45,840 S4: able to bring in on projects. Like I was talking 442 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:48,119 S4: to Louis, the director on the red carpet and I 443 00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:52,200 S4: was like, surely most of your job is just wrangling 444 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:54,480 S4: all of these huge names and making sure that no 445 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:57,330 S4: one's treading on anyone's toes. I mean, you've got, like 446 00:21:57,330 --> 00:22:01,110 S4: you said, four Oscar winning actresses in one movie. You've 447 00:22:01,109 --> 00:22:04,530 S4: got Jason Statham on one side. You've got John Cena 448 00:22:04,530 --> 00:22:09,900 S4: over here, Jason Momoa and Vin Diesel. It's like, how 449 00:22:09,900 --> 00:22:12,660 S4: do you even begin to pull together a movie that's 450 00:22:12,660 --> 00:22:15,570 S4: like coherent with that many big names? 451 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:18,899 S1: Yeah, it's wild. I was riding my big long feature 452 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:23,460 S1: for this film and I was kind of thinking about like, okay, 453 00:22:23,460 --> 00:22:26,370 S1: we've got this crazy stat, we've got Rita moreno, Brie Larson, 454 00:22:26,369 --> 00:22:28,860 S1: Charlize Theron, Helen Mirren in these movies. How did we 455 00:22:28,859 --> 00:22:30,689 S1: get here? And I think this goes back to what 456 00:22:30,690 --> 00:22:33,479 S1: we were saying before, even though that feels crazy to 457 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:36,810 S1: say it loud, the DNA and like the blueprint of 458 00:22:36,810 --> 00:22:39,300 S1: how we got here was there from day one this 459 00:22:39,300 --> 00:22:45,960 S1: centering of incredible women actresses, this natural approach to diversity, 460 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:48,240 S1: the willingness to have fun and take risks. Like the 461 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:50,100 S1: other thing about this is, you know, if you're if 462 00:22:50,100 --> 00:22:51,780 S1: you're a close fan of the franchise, you might know this. 463 00:22:51,780 --> 00:22:54,540 S1: Helen Mirren and Rita moreno begged to be in it 464 00:22:54,540 --> 00:22:57,090 S1: like this wasn't like Vin chasing them and saying, I 465 00:22:57,090 --> 00:23:00,209 S1: want you guys. They kind of like Margaret Pomeranz, have 466 00:23:00,210 --> 00:23:02,220 S1: always loved it and saw it and it's like if 467 00:23:02,220 --> 00:23:05,369 S1: you think you're too good for this franchise regular person, 468 00:23:05,369 --> 00:23:08,159 S1: you think you're better than Helen Mirren or Rita moreno 469 00:23:08,369 --> 00:23:10,740 S1: or Charlize Theron, and like knowing what a good movie is. 470 00:23:10,770 --> 00:23:11,430 S1: No thanks. 471 00:23:11,530 --> 00:23:12,959 S5: Do you know who else was asking to be in? 472 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:15,949 S4: It was Brie Larson. Apparently she was chasing them for ages. Yeah, 473 00:23:15,980 --> 00:23:18,830 S4: right into it. So it's. Yeah, like, I think it's 474 00:23:18,830 --> 00:23:21,350 S4: something that people want to be a part of because, 475 00:23:21,350 --> 00:23:23,449 S4: you know, they make highly entertaining movies and I'm sure 476 00:23:23,450 --> 00:23:25,250 S4: they will make a lot of money from them. But 477 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:28,280 S4: it seems like a really cool project to be a 478 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:30,800 S4: part of because I think, you know, when you do 479 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:33,800 S4: look at it through these like cultural or social lenses, 480 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:37,250 S4: you realize just how clever they've been in like, you know, 481 00:23:37,250 --> 00:23:40,850 S4: not pushing agendas, but like in progressing things in an 482 00:23:40,850 --> 00:23:44,149 S4: industry that, you know, lags behind in a lot of ways. 483 00:23:44,150 --> 00:23:47,419 S4: Like I know Hollywood and it can be quite progressive 484 00:23:47,420 --> 00:23:49,130 S4: and they talk about a lot of good things, but 485 00:23:49,130 --> 00:23:52,580 S4: there's also like it lags in a lot of ways 486 00:23:52,580 --> 00:23:54,230 S4: and it can be really bad in a lot of ways. 487 00:23:54,230 --> 00:23:56,180 S4: So then if you've got, you know, all of these 488 00:23:56,180 --> 00:23:58,940 S4: big movements happening in Hollywood, but then you've got at 489 00:23:58,940 --> 00:24:02,869 S4: the same time Vin Diesel pushing forward people like Michelle 490 00:24:02,869 --> 00:24:07,220 S4: Rodriguez or, you know, like Nathalie. 491 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:09,560 S1: Nathalie Emmanuel, Yeah, yeah. 492 00:24:09,770 --> 00:24:11,990 S4: And she was saying, like, this launched my career. Like, 493 00:24:11,990 --> 00:24:13,850 S4: I knew that when Vin took me on on this 494 00:24:13,850 --> 00:24:16,640 S4: project or like when I got it, you know, became 495 00:24:16,650 --> 00:24:19,619 S4: a part of the movies like it, you know, her 496 00:24:19,619 --> 00:24:22,620 S4: phone started ringing off the hook. So he's letting women 497 00:24:22,619 --> 00:24:25,680 S4: be different kinds of women, you know, whether it's like 498 00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:28,440 S4: a nerdy super geek who's like hacking into the mainframe 499 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:31,050 S4: or like, you know, a girl from the wrong side 500 00:24:31,050 --> 00:24:33,119 S4: of the tracks who's getting into fights and stealing cars, 501 00:24:33,119 --> 00:24:36,869 S4: like he's letting women be different kinds of women and. 502 00:24:37,710 --> 00:24:41,730 S4: Not feeling threatened by it at all. Like it's. It's wonderful. 503 00:24:42,690 --> 00:24:45,300 S1: Yeah. And I think it's why, like, I was really 504 00:24:45,300 --> 00:24:49,590 S1: worried about the franchise after seven. That's the last movie 505 00:24:49,590 --> 00:24:52,320 S1: that Paul Walker was in. He died tragically in an 506 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:55,380 S1: unrelated car accident while filming that movie, actually. And that 507 00:24:55,380 --> 00:24:57,899 S1: movie is my favorite, I think, not just because that 508 00:24:57,900 --> 00:25:00,600 S1: it's this beautiful tribute to Paul and like it's this 509 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:04,530 S1: funny thing where his character, Brian, is still, like, alive, 510 00:25:04,530 --> 00:25:06,420 S1: like in the canon of the movies, but he sort 511 00:25:06,420 --> 00:25:08,580 S1: of retired looking after the kid. So they didn't kill 512 00:25:08,580 --> 00:25:10,950 S1: him off and they just they did it so, so beautifully, 513 00:25:10,950 --> 00:25:14,699 S1: I think. And it was such a great film. And 514 00:25:14,700 --> 00:25:16,440 S1: then I thought, Oh, how are they going to pull 515 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:19,830 S1: this off like without him? And they added, Those people 516 00:25:19,830 --> 00:25:24,300 S1: you're talking about, you know, Jason Statham, Charlize Theron, John Cena. 517 00:25:24,300 --> 00:25:27,210 S1: And I do think that didn't just give it some 518 00:25:27,210 --> 00:25:29,639 S1: star power, but the way that they brought those people in, 519 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:32,970 S1: like Helen Mirren and Jason Statham are family in this movie. 520 00:25:32,970 --> 00:25:35,879 S1: And there's like a family there that that mirrors like 521 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:39,659 S1: Dom Toretto and his group. The movies feel different in 522 00:25:39,660 --> 00:25:42,570 S1: a way without like that kind of anchor of Paul 523 00:25:42,570 --> 00:25:45,660 S1: Walker's relationship with Vin Diesel. But I feel like they 524 00:25:45,660 --> 00:25:48,119 S1: still kind of have some of the soul. Did you 525 00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:50,070 S1: feel that in this most recent film? 526 00:25:50,430 --> 00:25:52,350 S4: Yeah, but I think that sort of like that little 527 00:25:52,350 --> 00:25:55,170 S4: bit of melancholy adds something to it as well. Like 528 00:25:55,170 --> 00:25:56,880 S4: it sort of makes it feel a little bit more 529 00:25:56,880 --> 00:25:59,940 S4: special or a bit more sacred or something, you know, like, 530 00:25:59,940 --> 00:26:02,820 S4: you know that there's something uncomfortable. And so everyone sort 531 00:26:02,820 --> 00:26:06,000 S4: of not tiptoeing around, but it's a delicate thing. And 532 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:07,980 S4: I think that that sort of tension adds a bit 533 00:26:07,980 --> 00:26:10,889 S4: of magic sometimes, and I think it does to the 534 00:26:11,190 --> 00:26:13,980 S4: in this latest one. And even when you're talking with 535 00:26:13,980 --> 00:26:15,840 S4: them on the red carpet or, you know, in the 536 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:18,540 S4: junket interviews and sort of trying to figure out a 537 00:26:18,540 --> 00:26:21,060 S4: delicate way to ask someone about the one of their 538 00:26:21,060 --> 00:26:24,840 S4: best friends who's passed away, I don't think it detracts 539 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:28,410 S4: like I think it I think it adds something that's 540 00:26:28,410 --> 00:26:30,630 S4: like intangible but special. 541 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:34,470 S1: Totally 100% agree. That's really well put. This is a 542 00:26:34,470 --> 00:26:37,229 S1: bit of a gearshift, pardon my pun. There is in 543 00:26:37,230 --> 00:26:41,010 S1: this film a cameo brook that I feel like I 544 00:26:41,010 --> 00:26:42,720 S1: want to talk to you about for a second. It's 545 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:44,369 S1: a spoiler. So if you haven't seen the movie yet, 546 00:26:44,369 --> 00:26:47,330 S1: maybe skip ahead a couple of minutes. This is ridiculous. 547 00:26:47,340 --> 00:26:51,060 S1: So this is Natalie Emmanuel's character. Ramsey is his hacker 548 00:26:51,060 --> 00:26:54,210 S1: takes Tyrese and I think Ludacris and a few people 549 00:26:54,210 --> 00:26:56,639 S1: back to London to meet this guy who's apparently going 550 00:26:56,640 --> 00:26:59,910 S1: to help them get gear, weapons, cars, money, everything they need. 551 00:27:00,090 --> 00:27:03,629 S1: They walk into this like Internet cafe in London. And 552 00:27:03,630 --> 00:27:07,230 S1: the guy is Pete Davidson. I think I yelped when 553 00:27:07,230 --> 00:27:10,590 S1: I saw this in the cinema. It was crazy. How 554 00:27:10,590 --> 00:27:11,760 S1: did you react to you? 555 00:27:11,820 --> 00:27:15,060 S5: Oh, my God. Oh, my God. It's Pete Davidson. 556 00:27:16,859 --> 00:27:19,770 S1: Like that felt more incongruous in some ways than Helen 557 00:27:19,770 --> 00:27:22,649 S1: Mirren or like Charlize Theron. I just felt like these 558 00:27:22,650 --> 00:27:25,380 S1: universes colliding. But I think to go back to your 559 00:27:25,380 --> 00:27:28,590 S1: point right from the start is these films are sort 560 00:27:28,590 --> 00:27:31,590 S1: of in touch with the zeitgeist in so many different ways, 561 00:27:31,590 --> 00:27:33,420 S1: not just in terms of like what a good plot 562 00:27:33,420 --> 00:27:35,460 S1: is or what a great action sequence should look like 563 00:27:35,460 --> 00:27:39,389 S1: in 2023. But like, who is an interesting and funny 564 00:27:39,390 --> 00:27:41,250 S1: and like topical person who just seems to be at 565 00:27:41,250 --> 00:27:43,320 S1: the center of culture and how do we squeeze them 566 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:45,869 S1: in in this way? Whoever's idea that was, I think, very, 567 00:27:45,869 --> 00:27:46,500 S1: very smart. 568 00:27:46,680 --> 00:27:49,020 S4: It was so smart. Mean, okay, let's play a game. 569 00:27:49,020 --> 00:27:51,030 S4: If it wasn't going to be Pete Davidson, but you 570 00:27:51,030 --> 00:27:54,060 S4: need a star of like similar caliber and similar position 571 00:27:54,060 --> 00:27:56,699 S4: in the zeitgeist, as you said. Who would who would 572 00:27:56,700 --> 00:27:58,830 S4: it be? Like Timothee Chalamet or something? 573 00:27:58,830 --> 00:28:01,440 S1: Or like, yeah, I was thinking Timothee or Zendaya, but 574 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:04,020 S1: I think they would have felt they're so earnest and serious. 575 00:28:04,020 --> 00:28:06,659 S1: Like there's something like Pete Davidson's ability to sort of 576 00:28:06,690 --> 00:28:08,730 S1: be funny and poke fun of himself is what made 577 00:28:08,730 --> 00:28:09,420 S1: it feel right. 578 00:28:09,570 --> 00:28:10,710 S6: Yeah. Yeah. 579 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:11,700 S5: So like. 580 00:28:11,940 --> 00:28:14,940 S4: I think it's sort of perfect because that's what they do. 581 00:28:14,940 --> 00:28:15,869 S5: Well, Like. 582 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:19,290 S4: They have like their, their skeleton that they know works 583 00:28:19,290 --> 00:28:22,530 S4: for them or like their template or whatever, and then 584 00:28:22,530 --> 00:28:25,620 S4: they just sort of latch onto or like pull along 585 00:28:25,619 --> 00:28:29,220 S4: with them. The thing that is really popular at the time. 586 00:28:29,900 --> 00:28:34,369 S1: So this film is supposed to be the beginning of 587 00:28:34,369 --> 00:28:37,879 S1: the end of this franchise. Supposed to be one more film, though. 588 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:40,790 S1: Vin Diesel at the red carpet premiere did sort of 589 00:28:40,790 --> 00:28:43,610 S1: weirdly hint that maybe there's going to be a third, 590 00:28:43,610 --> 00:28:46,550 S1: final film, that this could be a trilogy. I mean, 591 00:28:46,550 --> 00:28:48,830 S1: is this this thing right with movies? And you would 592 00:28:48,830 --> 00:28:51,410 S1: have been thinking and talking about this stuff for years 593 00:28:51,410 --> 00:28:55,070 S1: as well, like movies that make this much money. Studios 594 00:28:55,070 --> 00:28:57,200 S1: don't want to wind them up. Do you think that 595 00:28:57,200 --> 00:28:59,000 S1: this is really the beginning of the end? Do you 596 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:00,620 S1: think it will evolve in some way? Do you think 597 00:29:00,620 --> 00:29:03,590 S1: we'll just keep getting more movies like this, iterating, adding 598 00:29:03,590 --> 00:29:05,240 S1: more people getting bigger and bigger? 599 00:29:05,990 --> 00:29:09,080 S4: I think that what will happen is like they'll sort 600 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:11,660 S4: of somehow convince Jason Momoa to come over to their 601 00:29:11,660 --> 00:29:13,550 S4: side in the next movie. 602 00:29:13,550 --> 00:29:14,840 S1: They're very good at doing that. They're very good at 603 00:29:14,840 --> 00:29:18,050 S1: making the bad guy part of the family. Even Jason Statham, 604 00:29:18,320 --> 00:29:20,630 S1: we thought killed Han like a fan favorite. He's like 605 00:29:20,630 --> 00:29:21,740 S1: part of the family now. 606 00:29:21,950 --> 00:29:23,300 S5: Yeah, they'll win him over. 607 00:29:23,300 --> 00:29:25,880 S4: With love and, you know, bring him under there. Like, Hey, 608 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:27,860 S4: guess what? We don't have a dad as well, you know? 609 00:29:27,860 --> 00:29:30,020 S4: We know. You mean to come over to our side? 610 00:29:30,020 --> 00:29:31,940 S4: That's what they'll do. I know that's what they'll do. 611 00:29:32,390 --> 00:29:33,560 S5: So the next movie, I think that. 612 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:36,320 S4: They'll probably have some more action. Jason will try to 613 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:39,140 S4: kill them, destroy the world or whatever. They'll eventually win 614 00:29:39,140 --> 00:29:41,450 S4: him over, but then they'll be like an even bigger enemy. 615 00:29:41,450 --> 00:29:43,280 S4: Who knows what it'll be? It'll be like some sort 616 00:29:43,280 --> 00:29:46,010 S4: of whatever the like, Ice-T thing is. Like, maybe it'll 617 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:48,410 S4: be some social media thing or like. 618 00:29:48,980 --> 00:29:50,060 S1: Like a TikTok star. 619 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:51,500 S5: Yeah, like a TikTok. 620 00:29:51,500 --> 00:29:53,510 S4: Star or like some sort of, like, tapping into, like, 621 00:29:53,510 --> 00:29:56,209 S4: the Russia-Ukraine War or something. Like, they're so good at 622 00:29:56,210 --> 00:29:58,250 S4: tapping into like, the things that are going on in 623 00:29:58,250 --> 00:30:01,040 S4: the world. So it'll be like or a virus or 624 00:30:01,040 --> 00:30:04,910 S4: something like it'll be some bigger, bigger common enemy. And 625 00:30:04,910 --> 00:30:08,660 S4: then they'll spend the final movie overcoming that. And then 626 00:30:08,660 --> 00:30:13,130 S4: I think what will happen is like those senior cast, 627 00:30:13,130 --> 00:30:17,209 S4: like that core cast, like Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Vin Diesel, 628 00:30:17,390 --> 00:30:19,910 S4: I think that they'll sort of like retire them. And 629 00:30:19,910 --> 00:30:21,530 S4: then the people who are part of like the next 630 00:30:21,530 --> 00:30:24,170 S4: generation will have like some sort of spinoff. 631 00:30:24,590 --> 00:30:26,930 S1: Yeah, I think, I think you're right. I think this 632 00:30:26,930 --> 00:30:31,760 S1: particular kind of story, the Vin Diesel Dominic Toretto story, 633 00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:35,090 S1: I think is reaching an end. I mean, like it's 634 00:30:35,090 --> 00:30:38,420 S1: it will be 25 plus years by the time the 635 00:30:38,420 --> 00:30:42,470 S1: final movie's come out. But yeah, the name is so valuable. 636 00:30:42,470 --> 00:30:46,550 S1: The emotion, the emotional connection is there. People will want 637 00:30:46,550 --> 00:30:50,820 S1: to follow this on TV shows in future films as well. 638 00:30:50,820 --> 00:30:54,580 S1: Of that, I have no doubt. Brooke Boney, thank you 639 00:30:54,580 --> 00:30:57,489 S1: so much for diving into all of this with me. 640 00:30:57,490 --> 00:30:59,800 S1: It was a real pleasure to to talk about this 641 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:03,580 S1: franchise with you. Thank you, Oz. Let's go to my 642 00:31:03,580 --> 00:31:07,180 S1: interview now with Charlize, Brie, Michele and Helen. 643 00:31:35,850 --> 00:31:39,060 S7: Oh, yeah. I think it's, you know, it's a testament 644 00:31:39,060 --> 00:31:44,670 S7: to the, you know, to the producers, to Vin and his, 645 00:31:44,670 --> 00:31:48,660 S7: you know, security in his own masculinity, that he doesn't 646 00:31:48,660 --> 00:31:52,530 S7: feel intimidated by having strong women around him. You know, 647 00:31:52,530 --> 00:31:57,090 S7: it's also about universal generating the space to have these 648 00:31:57,090 --> 00:32:01,200 S7: kickass girls express themselves. And so, like, you know, it's 649 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:03,420 S7: just a testament to to all the work that we 650 00:32:03,420 --> 00:32:05,700 S7: put in in the early 2000s, you know, And I'm 651 00:32:05,700 --> 00:32:08,450 S7: just so happy that it's that it's grown into this tree. 652 00:32:08,460 --> 00:32:08,970 S7: You know. 653 00:32:08,970 --> 00:32:11,160 S1: I can be reductive to just ask women about what 654 00:32:11,160 --> 00:32:12,989 S1: it's like to be women in a film. It's not 655 00:32:12,990 --> 00:32:14,520 S1: really where I want to go, but I just thought 656 00:32:14,520 --> 00:32:18,540 S1: that statistic was so significant. And I know Charlie's surprised 657 00:32:18,540 --> 00:32:21,720 S1: that I kind of took an action film, ten films 658 00:32:21,720 --> 00:32:25,080 S1: into the franchise to bring together, like such an extraordinary 659 00:32:25,080 --> 00:32:28,560 S1: cast of award winning, critically acclaimed women actors. 660 00:32:28,770 --> 00:32:31,140 S8: I mean, I think in retrospect, we could always say, like, God, 661 00:32:31,140 --> 00:32:34,770 S8: we wish it would happen sooner, right? I think women 662 00:32:34,770 --> 00:32:39,270 S8: would all agree that it's been it's been tough, like 663 00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:42,450 S8: getting our footing in there. But I always refer to 664 00:32:42,450 --> 00:32:45,720 S8: her as the true OG, who stepped into a franchise movie, 665 00:32:45,720 --> 00:32:48,990 S8: really worked hard to figure out how to stand for 666 00:32:48,990 --> 00:32:50,730 S8: what she wanted this to be. And I don't think 667 00:32:50,730 --> 00:32:54,060 S8: it was always very easy. So yeah, in that retrospect, 668 00:32:54,060 --> 00:32:56,100 S8: I don't I hate that it was that way for her, 669 00:32:56,100 --> 00:32:58,950 S8: was that way for all of us. But it's nice 670 00:32:58,950 --> 00:33:02,220 S8: to just like not be bitter and just enjoy this moment, 671 00:33:02,220 --> 00:33:04,920 S8: you know? I'm going to be in a wheelchair in 672 00:33:04,920 --> 00:33:08,430 S8: about three years, though. What? I wish it happened a 673 00:33:08,430 --> 00:33:10,500 S8: little earlier just for my body. What are. 674 00:33:10,500 --> 00:33:11,040 S9: You doing? 675 00:33:11,130 --> 00:33:13,920 S8: Oh, my. For my hip replacement surgery. 676 00:33:14,670 --> 00:33:17,040 S10: It's going to happen next year. Stop aging. 677 00:33:17,040 --> 00:33:18,440 S7: Yourself. Why do you do that? 678 00:33:18,450 --> 00:33:21,780 S8: No, I just. I listen, I'm not 20 anymore. After 679 00:33:21,780 --> 00:33:24,750 S8: every movie, I have to get surgery. Like I just 680 00:33:24,750 --> 00:33:27,540 S8: fixed my shoulder. I wish, you know. True. Yeah, because. 681 00:33:27,930 --> 00:33:31,200 S7: Because she throws herself completely into what she does and 682 00:33:31,200 --> 00:33:34,080 S7: kind of forgets that the body has to follow. Yeah. 683 00:33:34,900 --> 00:33:35,820 S11: Silly me. 684 00:33:36,810 --> 00:33:39,150 S7: I mean, she's also shooting, like, three action movies at 685 00:33:39,150 --> 00:33:39,690 S7: a time. 686 00:33:41,130 --> 00:33:44,970 S11: Slow them down. What's wrong with you, woman? You can 687 00:33:44,970 --> 00:33:47,940 S11: swear on this. Bleep yourself. Yeah, I did. It's a 688 00:33:47,940 --> 00:33:50,670 S11: really good talent because you still move the lip, and 689 00:33:50,670 --> 00:33:53,719 S11: then this is, like, so good. My jet lag. That 690 00:33:53,730 --> 00:33:56,130 S11: is a crazy glitch in the matrix. 691 00:33:56,400 --> 00:33:59,459 S1: Bring the freshest to the franchise. That of the three 692 00:33:59,460 --> 00:34:03,210 S1: of you here, it's been more than two decades that 693 00:34:03,210 --> 00:34:05,760 S1: these moves have been being made. There's such a long 694 00:34:05,760 --> 00:34:09,629 S1: running connection and stories that a lot of the cast have. 695 00:34:09,660 --> 00:34:11,640 S1: Was it intimidating at all or did you feel like. 696 00:34:11,850 --> 00:34:16,020 S11: Yeah, I mean, in my head it was intimidating. Then 697 00:34:16,020 --> 00:34:17,669 S11: I met everybody and they were really nice, so then 698 00:34:17,670 --> 00:34:20,640 S11: it was fine. I felt comfortable. But yes, I went 699 00:34:20,640 --> 00:34:23,130 S11: through this extreme excitement like, Oh my gosh, I can't 700 00:34:23,130 --> 00:34:24,390 S11: believe I get to do this is my dream job. 701 00:34:24,390 --> 00:34:26,850 S11: And then like in a ball, like, what am I 702 00:34:26,850 --> 00:34:29,879 S11: going to do? Like, can I actually do this? Because 703 00:34:29,880 --> 00:34:31,740 S11: it's not I mean, this was kind of the first 704 00:34:31,739 --> 00:34:33,600 S11: time for me where I'm stepping into something that has 705 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:37,290 S11: this heritage, this legacy that I respect so much. And 706 00:34:37,290 --> 00:34:39,180 S11: so there's a lot of pressure that I was putting 707 00:34:39,180 --> 00:34:40,770 S11: on myself with that because I want to be at 708 00:34:40,770 --> 00:34:41,850 S11: the same level as them. 709 00:34:42,090 --> 00:34:43,830 S1: Did you find that, Charlize, when you joined you joined 710 00:34:43,830 --> 00:34:46,229 S1: a few movies ago, and was it a pretty quick 711 00:34:46,230 --> 00:34:47,820 S1: thing to go from the newcomer to now? You're just 712 00:34:47,820 --> 00:34:50,850 S1: part of the the family in a kind of bizarre 713 00:34:50,850 --> 00:34:53,560 S1: twist in this movie, sort of building alliances with people 714 00:34:53,560 --> 00:34:54,600 S1: we didn't expect to see. 715 00:34:55,020 --> 00:34:56,700 S7: Sick, psychotic. 716 00:34:56,700 --> 00:34:58,560 S12: Twist come down. 717 00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:03,090 S8: That's you know, I feel like my character is a 718 00:35:03,090 --> 00:35:06,420 S8: little bit different just because she's a psychopath. 719 00:35:08,070 --> 00:35:09,240 S1: You guys are getting along. 720 00:35:10,140 --> 00:35:14,279 S8: I'm like even off camera. Like, I was never really 721 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:17,129 S8: around the rest of the cast. Like on the first 722 00:35:17,130 --> 00:35:20,320 S8: movie I only worked with, I saw you in five, 723 00:35:20,340 --> 00:35:22,860 S8: five seconds on the floor. Yeah, most of the time. 724 00:35:22,860 --> 00:35:25,080 S8: I was just with then. And then the second time 725 00:35:25,080 --> 00:35:28,529 S8: around I was in a box. So this has been. 726 00:35:28,620 --> 00:35:30,090 S7: A mastermind chess player. 727 00:35:30,510 --> 00:35:32,310 S8: I mean, we used to, like, see each other premieres 728 00:35:32,310 --> 00:35:35,970 S8: and I'd be like, Yeah, what's up? So it's different 729 00:35:35,969 --> 00:35:38,310 S8: in the sense that I always felt so much support 730 00:35:38,310 --> 00:35:41,070 S8: from her. And like when I did see her, like 731 00:35:41,070 --> 00:35:44,310 S8: pass me and base camp, like she always made it 732 00:35:44,310 --> 00:35:46,080 S8: a point to be like, What do you need? Or 733 00:35:46,080 --> 00:35:49,290 S8: you'd be taking care of? And I just so appreciated that. 734 00:35:49,770 --> 00:35:52,140 S1: I'm really interested to get each of your perspectives on 735 00:35:52,140 --> 00:35:55,200 S1: why this franchise at a time when so many that 736 00:35:55,200 --> 00:35:57,150 S1: we thought would just be around forever kind of waning 737 00:35:57,150 --> 00:36:01,020 S1: a bit fast keeps growing and growing. I have my 738 00:36:01,020 --> 00:36:03,090 S1: own theories. To me, I think there's been like diversity 739 00:36:03,090 --> 00:36:05,790 S1: embedded in it from day one. I'm curious as to 740 00:36:05,790 --> 00:36:09,000 S1: whether you guys have thoughts on that or other other theories. 741 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:12,239 S7: Michelle You what? I'm not going to pretend to know 742 00:36:12,239 --> 00:36:15,989 S7: what the magic formula is. Tell us. But no, no. 743 00:36:15,989 --> 00:36:18,270 S13: But it could be you. You've been there for me. No, no, 744 00:36:18,300 --> 00:36:18,720 S13: it is. 745 00:36:18,719 --> 00:36:22,140 S14: You know what? To be fair, I honestly think that 746 00:36:22,140 --> 00:36:24,029 S14: it's the platform. 747 00:36:25,020 --> 00:36:26,339 S7: I do think that. 748 00:36:26,340 --> 00:36:29,790 S14: That one of the ingredients is Vin's relationship with the 749 00:36:29,790 --> 00:36:34,920 S14: fans and their involvement with with the franchise itself. I mean. 750 00:36:35,300 --> 00:36:40,160 S7: They wanted me back. I came back. You know, they 751 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:42,860 S7: fight for certain things when they see something. 752 00:36:42,860 --> 00:36:45,410 S14: That they don't like, they they voice it and they're 753 00:36:45,410 --> 00:36:48,110 S14: listened to. So they're the fans are a big. 754 00:36:48,110 --> 00:36:50,600 S7: Part of of the franchise. And I don't think that 755 00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:54,170 S7: there's I can't name off the top of my head 756 00:36:54,170 --> 00:36:57,110 S7: any other franchise that includes them as much as Fast. 757 00:36:57,110 --> 00:36:57,649 S14: And Furious. 758 00:36:57,650 --> 00:36:58,250 S15: Does. 759 00:36:58,400 --> 00:37:00,860 S14: And I think that the fact that we were there. 760 00:37:00,860 --> 00:37:05,270 S7: Before globalization took its took its toll on the world, 761 00:37:05,480 --> 00:37:08,120 S7: I think that we represent kind of like what hip 762 00:37:08,120 --> 00:37:11,240 S7: hop did to the music industry and that respect of 763 00:37:11,239 --> 00:37:14,150 S7: diversity and inclusion. And once. 764 00:37:14,150 --> 00:37:15,230 S14: Once people realize. 765 00:37:15,230 --> 00:37:18,680 S7: That there's money to be made, it was like, you know, 766 00:37:19,280 --> 00:37:20,510 S7: it was like, drop mic. 767 00:37:21,230 --> 00:37:21,710 S1: Yeah, crazy. 768 00:37:22,010 --> 00:37:23,149 S7: We're serious. Done. 769 00:37:23,930 --> 00:37:26,930 S1: Yeah. Free. As someone who was watching this from the outside, 770 00:37:26,930 --> 00:37:29,690 S1: I guess for the first nine films, did you have 771 00:37:29,690 --> 00:37:32,330 S1: a theory as to why these movies just kept growing 772 00:37:32,330 --> 00:37:34,819 S1: and bringing so many fans into that relationship? 773 00:37:36,440 --> 00:37:38,779 S11: I mean, I watched the movies to enjoy them. I 774 00:37:38,780 --> 00:37:41,750 S11: wasn't like analyzing them being like, What are they doing? 775 00:37:43,190 --> 00:37:47,840 S11: But in going through and rewatching all of them, I 776 00:37:47,840 --> 00:37:50,750 S11: do think the core concept of family being at the 777 00:37:50,750 --> 00:37:53,000 S11: center of all of this is what sets it apart, 778 00:37:53,450 --> 00:37:57,650 S11: because we want to see car chases and explosions and 779 00:37:57,650 --> 00:38:01,250 S11: people doing the impossible. But if it's soulless, at a 780 00:38:01,250 --> 00:38:04,610 S11: certain point you get bored. But there's like true connection 781 00:38:04,610 --> 00:38:07,910 S11: and love and value systems that are embedded in it. 782 00:38:07,910 --> 00:38:10,040 S11: And I think that's what makes it different. It makes 783 00:38:10,040 --> 00:38:12,260 S11: it worth your while to go out of your way 784 00:38:12,260 --> 00:38:14,540 S11: to go to the theater and not just go alone, 785 00:38:14,540 --> 00:38:17,000 S11: but you want to bring your family. It becomes an event. 786 00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:19,640 S1: Yeah, Watching these things in theaters is the most fun experience. 787 00:38:19,790 --> 00:38:22,400 S1: The crowds are the most diverse and like. Like just 788 00:38:22,400 --> 00:38:24,140 S1: looks like the whole country in a way that few 789 00:38:24,140 --> 00:38:26,270 S1: movies do. Yeah. Charlize I've heard from a few of 790 00:38:26,270 --> 00:38:28,970 S1: the other cast that Vin is so hands on with 791 00:38:28,969 --> 00:38:32,450 S1: the cast in terms of character development, where their stories go. 792 00:38:32,450 --> 00:38:35,540 S1: Is that your experience? Is it a pretty collaborative process 793 00:38:35,540 --> 00:38:38,150 S1: with him to kind of figure out where things go next? 794 00:38:39,260 --> 00:38:42,350 S8: Yeah. I mean, I feel like when I came in, 795 00:38:42,350 --> 00:38:44,029 S8: I didn't even think that I would have to like, 796 00:38:44,030 --> 00:38:45,770 S8: figure out that much because I didn't know if I 797 00:38:45,770 --> 00:38:48,920 S8: was going to come back. So it was very, very 798 00:38:48,920 --> 00:38:51,350 S8: specific what I was coming in to do. And all 799 00:38:51,350 --> 00:38:55,069 S8: they said was, you need to we need you to 800 00:38:55,070 --> 00:38:57,290 S8: turn this a little bit on its head. We need 801 00:38:57,290 --> 00:38:59,480 S8: to like get Dom in a place. And so that 802 00:38:59,480 --> 00:39:01,820 S8: was my like, that's what we geared towards and that's 803 00:39:01,820 --> 00:39:04,850 S8: what everybody worked towards, was to create a character that 804 00:39:05,239 --> 00:39:08,810 S8: could be impactful enough to have somebody like Dom who's 805 00:39:08,810 --> 00:39:12,710 S8: like a pretty solid guy have him flip. And so 806 00:39:12,710 --> 00:39:15,680 S8: I thought that it was really smart to like take 807 00:39:15,680 --> 00:39:20,330 S8: the character from that as the objective and, and inform 808 00:39:20,330 --> 00:39:24,770 S8: her that way. Everybody was really everybody hands down, super 809 00:39:24,770 --> 00:39:29,420 S8: collaborative open there. You know, I wanted to go pretty far. 810 00:39:29,719 --> 00:39:32,330 S8: I said like there's been a lot of villains on this. 811 00:39:32,330 --> 00:39:34,250 S8: If I'm going to do this, I need to like, 812 00:39:34,250 --> 00:39:35,989 S8: know that we're going to create a villain that's like. 813 00:39:35,989 --> 00:39:37,129 S7: Brutal, like, so. 814 00:39:37,130 --> 00:39:39,260 S8: Mean. But they could have easily said like, No, it's 815 00:39:39,260 --> 00:39:41,390 S8: not for us. Like, don't do that. They trusted. 816 00:39:41,390 --> 00:39:43,550 S7: Me. Just cold man. Hard and cold. 817 00:39:43,550 --> 00:39:44,870 S1: My favorite villain in the franchise. 818 00:39:45,020 --> 00:39:47,210 S12: Yeah. Hands down. Yeah. 819 00:39:52,050 --> 00:39:55,370 S1: First, Han is the first film to feature four women 820 00:39:55,370 --> 00:39:59,540 S1: who've won Academy Awards. You are obviously one of them. How? Firstly, 821 00:39:59,540 --> 00:40:01,070 S1: how does it feel to be part of that team? 822 00:40:01,070 --> 00:40:03,589 S1: But also I'm really interested in how you feel about 823 00:40:03,590 --> 00:40:06,380 S1: the fact that it took an action franchise like Fast 824 00:40:06,380 --> 00:40:08,120 S1: to to make something like that happen. 825 00:40:08,120 --> 00:40:13,850 S16: It's that interesting, I think partly because in, in in 826 00:40:13,850 --> 00:40:17,480 S16: a franchise like this, there are a lot of roles, 827 00:40:17,480 --> 00:40:20,989 S16: there's a lot of possibilities if you like. You know, 828 00:40:20,989 --> 00:40:23,810 S16: it's not a small film between two characters. You know, 829 00:40:23,810 --> 00:40:27,230 S16: there's a it's a big canvas and all the characters 830 00:40:27,230 --> 00:40:34,340 S16: are very big, very, very proactive. And I think in general, 831 00:40:34,340 --> 00:40:38,359 S16: the great respect and agency that the filmmakers give to 832 00:40:38,360 --> 00:40:42,290 S16: women in general and always have done all through the franchise, 833 00:40:42,290 --> 00:40:45,380 S16: women are never, you know, cowering in the corner. They're 834 00:40:45,380 --> 00:40:50,600 S16: always stepping forward, which is great. And it means that actresses, 835 00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:54,610 S16: female actors want to work in that in, you know, 836 00:40:54,710 --> 00:40:58,010 S16: in these in these roles and these circumstances is not 837 00:40:58,010 --> 00:41:02,330 S16: really the fact that they are huge franchises or their 838 00:41:02,330 --> 00:41:07,069 S16: big action sequences. It's because the the female characters are very, 839 00:41:07,310 --> 00:41:10,820 S16: very even. You know, Queenie, I just have one scene 840 00:41:10,820 --> 00:41:15,290 S16: in this particular episode, but, you know, it's a great scene. 841 00:41:15,440 --> 00:41:16,700 S16: It's a really nice scene. 842 00:41:17,120 --> 00:41:19,580 S1: I know that you're a fan of the franchise even 843 00:41:19,580 --> 00:41:22,280 S1: before you joined it. I'm really interested on your theories 844 00:41:22,280 --> 00:41:24,830 S1: as to why you think it more than almost any 845 00:41:24,830 --> 00:41:28,910 S1: other franchise has not just continued to thrive but grown 846 00:41:28,910 --> 00:41:29,719 S1: and grown. 847 00:41:30,230 --> 00:41:35,870 S16: Well, partly, I think, because the the technicality. That's available. 848 00:41:35,870 --> 00:41:40,190 S16: The tech techniques that are available have grown and grown 849 00:41:40,190 --> 00:41:43,730 S16: and grown in specifically over the last ten years. I 850 00:41:43,730 --> 00:41:46,520 S16: don't know how long ago the first one was, but 851 00:41:46,520 --> 00:41:49,130 S16: in that period of time, when was it? More than. 852 00:41:49,130 --> 00:41:49,910 S1: 20 years? I think. 853 00:41:50,260 --> 00:41:53,550 S16: A while. Yeah, There you go. So, you know, the 854 00:41:53,570 --> 00:41:57,500 S16: what you can do on film has grown exponentially in 855 00:41:57,500 --> 00:42:00,290 S16: that period of time and the films have grown with that. 856 00:42:00,830 --> 00:42:05,330 S16: And and I think because the fundamental themes of the 857 00:42:05,330 --> 00:42:10,640 S16: film are actually very profound to all of us, obviously 858 00:42:10,640 --> 00:42:15,920 S16: the family theme, but, you know, love, support, battling through 859 00:42:16,760 --> 00:42:21,350 S16: opposition as a group. I think a very sort of 860 00:42:21,350 --> 00:42:25,009 S16: fundamental to human behavior anyway. So I think it's a 861 00:42:25,010 --> 00:42:27,050 S16: combination of of things. 862 00:42:27,260 --> 00:42:29,690 S1: We were talking about the role that women have played 863 00:42:29,690 --> 00:42:31,940 S1: in the franchise from day one before. But I wonder, 864 00:42:31,940 --> 00:42:33,950 S1: do you think the films get enough credit not just 865 00:42:33,950 --> 00:42:36,860 S1: for diversity in that regard, but you think about race, 866 00:42:36,860 --> 00:42:40,219 S1: you think about age from from day one. They've always 867 00:42:40,219 --> 00:42:42,560 S1: been a franchise that reflects everyone. 868 00:42:42,600 --> 00:42:47,060 S16: Absolutely. Absolutely. Totally. Right. And thank you for pointing that out, 869 00:42:47,060 --> 00:42:50,900 S16: because that is absolutely true. And I think that's another 870 00:42:50,900 --> 00:42:54,799 S16: mark of in its natural way because it wasn't like 871 00:42:54,800 --> 00:42:58,819 S16: a political thing or a, oh gosh, you know, let's 872 00:42:58,820 --> 00:43:00,620 S16: have an older woman in because we haven't got any 873 00:43:00,620 --> 00:43:04,400 S16: old women in it. I kind of thing it was 874 00:43:04,400 --> 00:43:08,030 S16: it was natural to the storytelling to to just to 875 00:43:08,030 --> 00:43:12,320 S16: them mentality and attitude to life. So of the filmmakers, 876 00:43:12,320 --> 00:43:15,830 S16: you know, then obviously being, you know, our fearless leader. 877 00:43:16,489 --> 00:43:19,640 S16: And I think the fact that it happened organically like 878 00:43:19,640 --> 00:43:23,660 S16: that is also no one feels they're being got at. 879 00:43:23,660 --> 00:43:24,439 S16: Do you know what I mean? 880 00:43:24,440 --> 00:43:27,109 S1: And I feel scared calling Dame Helen Mirren an older woman. 881 00:43:27,110 --> 00:43:30,020 S1: But it's not just that. But you're doing you're driving 882 00:43:30,020 --> 00:43:33,259 S1: cars really fast, right? There's no tokenism in that pressure. 883 00:43:33,290 --> 00:43:35,420 S17: Older women do drive cars really fast. 884 00:43:36,290 --> 00:43:38,200 S1: The last thing I wanted to ask you is a 885 00:43:38,210 --> 00:43:40,339 S1: few of the cast I've spoken to talk about Vin's 886 00:43:40,340 --> 00:43:43,040 S1: role in terms of working with the cast, in terms 887 00:43:43,040 --> 00:43:45,170 S1: of where the characters go. Has that been your experience? 888 00:43:45,170 --> 00:43:47,839 S1: Has it been quite a dynamic process with VIN in 889 00:43:47,840 --> 00:43:48,490 S1: this series? 890 00:43:48,500 --> 00:43:53,120 S16: Yes, I think that we just feel and I don't 891 00:43:53,120 --> 00:43:55,489 S16: know how it works with the other cast members, but 892 00:43:55,489 --> 00:43:58,399 S16: we just naturally let it happen. And and I think 893 00:43:58,400 --> 00:44:02,300 S16: our natural chemistry that we have between us just is 894 00:44:02,300 --> 00:44:04,819 S16: allow you we just allow that to sort of play 895 00:44:04,820 --> 00:44:08,210 S16: out on the screen in terms of creating the character. 896 00:44:08,330 --> 00:44:12,020 S16: You know, she Queenie is very much my sort of creation. 897 00:44:12,020 --> 00:44:16,880 S16: She comes from my background, my family, my mom's family background. 898 00:44:16,880 --> 00:44:20,500 S16: She's named after an aunt of mine and she's, you know, 899 00:44:20,510 --> 00:44:24,110 S16: East End London, you know, and and that is that's 900 00:44:24,110 --> 00:44:27,110 S16: very much a part of my background, not the whole part, 901 00:44:27,110 --> 00:44:30,140 S16: but a part of my background. So she's she's my 902 00:44:30,140 --> 00:44:31,310 S16: little creation there. 903 00:44:31,550 --> 00:44:33,500 S1: That's awesome. That's wonderful. Thank you so much, Alan. 904 00:44:33,500 --> 00:44:34,580 S17: Thank you. Pleasure. 905 00:44:39,630 --> 00:44:43,590 S1: This episode of The Drop was produced by Kuo. If 906 00:44:43,590 --> 00:44:45,989 S1: you enjoyed listening to today's episode of The Drop, make 907 00:44:45,989 --> 00:44:48,600 S1: sure to follow us in your favorite podcast app. Give 908 00:44:48,600 --> 00:44:51,390 S1: us a review or better yet, share it with a friend. 909 00:44:51,480 --> 00:44:52,650 S1: I'm Osman Farooqui. 910 00:44:52,680 --> 00:44:53,430 UU: See you soon.