Fast & Furious 10 LA Shoot Protested By Local Residents
Shooting for Fast X has garnered backlash from local residents of Los Angeles. The tenth installment of the franchise, which has also spawned spin-off Hobbs & Shaw, rose to popularity in the early 2000s due to its action, street-racing sequences, and star power, with Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, and Michelle Rodriguez in leading roles. The franchise is known for going bigger in each movie, with fifth film Fast Five in 2011 marking a transition from street racing to heists as the focus of the franchise. Since that movie, critical reception of the franchise’s films became largely positive as opposed to mixed.
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The tenth installment, Fast X, is set to be the second-to-last film in the main Fast and Furious series. It is likely to go even bigger than any of its predecessors (difficult to do, considering that F9 went to space), with a budget of $300 million, making it the fifth most expensive film ever made. Justin Lin initially returned to the franchise to write and direct Fast X, but departed during production, resulting in Louis Leterrier being brought in as director. Most of the Fast 9 cast are set to reprise their roles in the film, as well as fan-favorites from many of the previous installments. Though fans are likely to be excited by that news, local residents of LA, where the film is currently shooting, feel differently.
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According to Variety, the action film’s production has caused issues in the local community. Residents, frustrated by noise and the unsafe conditions created by the shoot in Angelino Heights, are planning a protest against Fast X this Friday. The article also points to outrage from the community that street racing, which is at a current high in the city and responsible for local casualties, is glorified in the Fast and Furious franchise. Even outside the world of street racing, Variety reports that L.A. saw a huge increase in reckless driving during the pandemic, resulting in more traffic and pedestrian deaths. For further details, see an email from a resident acquired by Variety below:
“If this film shoot is allowed to go forward in Angelino Heights, or any part of it from F10 Productions (Universal) … we will stage a huge protest and will invite many reporters and news cameras to film us protesting this film shoot all day and night. We will hold this protest to honor the 178 people who have been killed by street racers in Los Angeles, and to shame Universal for their callous disregard for this deadly epidemic of street racing their films started and continue to promote.”
The reports from residents showcase a little-known consequence of shooting films, particularly over-the-top action movies with large set pieces and loud, involved scenes such as those in Fast X. The real-life effects of filming are unfortunate and point to an important consideration for the film’s creators to take into account – the impact on and concerns of the local community. While Fast and Furious films have taken on an international quality, the franchise has been steeped in L.A. culture since the first movie, and it’s interesting to hear actual residents’ takes on the franchise. Hopefully, their voices will be heard as filming continues.
As the Fast & Furious series is built upon its daring racing sequences, it seems unlikely future installments will tone down those elements. However, it would go a long way if those associated with the franchise, like Diesel, were to speak up about these issues. Perhaps the protest will spur some kind of response if it actually takes place. In the meantime, excitement for this next installment will likely not be dampened. Brie Larson and Jason Momoa are among the cast members joining the franchise. Fast X is currently slated for release in May 2023, with a sequel set for February 2024. Since this story is still developing, it remains to be seen if the protests in L.A. will cause any shooting delays.
Source: Variety
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