Michelle Rodriguez opens up about the new director of Fast X, Louis Leterrier, after the departure of series vet Justin Lin. The upcoming sequel to F9 serves as the tenth installment in the main Fast & Furious franchise, as well as the penultimate chapter in The Fast Saga. While details surrounding the movie's plot remain under wraps, it's known that both Fast & Furious 10 and 11 were intended to shoot back-to-back. Additionally, audiences can expect a lot of the same action and adrenaline that made the series so popular to begin with. Rodriguez will return as Letty Ortiz in Fast X alongside a cast featuring Vin Diesel, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Jordana Brewster, Charlize Theron, Brie Larson, and Jason Momoa.

Leterrier, known for his work on Clash of the Titans and Now You See Me, stepped in to replace Lin, who exited the project as director back in April. The decision came as a surprise to many since Lin had directed a number of prior installments, including F9. Originally believed to be the result of creative differences, later reports claimed that Diesel's on-set behavior played a role in Lin's sudden departure from Fast 10. Leterrier was announced to have landed the job shortly after Lin's exit.

While attending this year's San Diego Comic-Con to promote Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Rodriguez opened up to THR about Leterrier as a director, speaking only positively about what he brings to the long-running franchise. Read Rodriguez's full quote regarding the director's impact below:

He came with all this energy of love. We haven’t had that in Fast and Furious for a very long time where we get somebody excited who’s a real fan and who really wants to take it places that it hasn’t gone before. We’ve been at it for 20 years, bro. After all that time, you get jaded and kind of forget what you do it for [until] a director like Louis comes in and reminds you, ‘This is beautiful. Let’s go make magic.’ We’re so lucky to have him bro.

Rodriguez is not the only star to approve of Leterrier, as Diesel shared a photo of his daughter and the director having a sweet interaction on the Fast 10 set in late May. The actor has taken to social media to update his followers throughout the production of Fast X, offering behind-the-scenes images and teasing several character reunions that prove the cast really has become a family. If Rodriguez's comments are any indication, it seems Leterrier is the latest addition to that family.

It should be interesting for audiences to see where Leterrier takes the franchise in the upcoming installment and if he stays on board to direct its eleventh entry as well. With an ending in mind, assuming the next film still shoots directly after, the future of Fast & Furious remains up in the air. Those excited to see what Leterrier brings to the table and how The Fast Saga sets up its conclusion can look forward to Fast X when it hits theaters next year.

Fast X / Fast & Furious 10 (2023)
Release Date: May 19, 2023