The Fast & Furious series is the most successful franchise that Universal owns. This is hardly surprising given that each film has been a smash hit at the box office. However, the trailer for Fast & Furious 9 shows that the series can do almost anything in the name of action.
Genre
While many films are tied down to a unique selling point, the Fast & Furious series only has one requirement; cars. Fortunately, a good car chase is a staple of the action genre and this has allowed the series to now play with space and possibly time.
The trailer for the upcoming Fast & Furious 9 notes how the team have taken on tanks and submarines rather than just taking part in races. With that said, this is not presented as a negative deviation from canon. Instead, the impossible feats of Don and his crew are celebrated.
In the teaser, viewers are treated to Dom’s (Vin Diesel) mysterious brother (John Cena), a space-based mission and the return of Han (Sung Kang). Most franchises would struggle to justify bringing back a character who was killed off, never mind taking action to space. Yet, the Fast & Furious franchise has a unique position with its fanbase.
Vin Diesel noted that Han was reintroduced because of the character’s relationship with Dom. With this in mind, satisfying the audience with a character arc appears to overrule the canon.
Diesel told DigitalSpy:
“Han is closest to being a brother to Dom, so his return has the desired impact.”
Fans
The importance of fans is clear in every franchise. They not only draw attention to the products, but they also spend money on them. Experience 12 has found that fans spend 40% more on films, and they are also twice as likely to see a film in its opening week.
The Fast & Furious franchise has seemingly managed to maintain a fanbase by indulging in the ridiculous while giving just enough narrative justification. This has led to significant spending from fans of the franchise as well as the general public who want to see a solid action film.
Going Forward
With a loyal fan base who are keen to see car chases, top action stars, and a continuation of the crew’s journey it seems that Fast & Furious has an almost unlimited scope in the realms of action.
In fact, the trailer for the upcoming film seems to see the series fully realise just how far the franchise can push the limits. Whether the series explores space in subsequent films remains to be seen, but it is evident that fans are on board for the spectacle.
