Fast X Director Thought The Call For The Job Was An Accidental Butt-Dial
Filmmaker Louis Leterrier received many big calls during his 21-year career, where studios have invited him to direct the likes of such hit action films as "The Transporter," "The Incredible Hulk," and "Clash of the Titans." Despite all of his success, it appears that Leterrier has remained humble at the prospects of landing future directing gigs, going so far to think that some calls from studio bigwigs have been placed to him by accident.
At least that seems to be the way Leterrier felt when he was offered the opportunity to direct "Fast X," the tenth installment in the "Fast & Furious" franchise, which opens in theaters May 19, 2023. In an interview with Uproxx, the director confessed he thought the call he got from Universal Pictures to direct "Fast X" was the result of an executive accidentally sitting on his phone. After all, Leterrier was oblivious to the earlier news that the film's original director, Justin Lin, exited the production.
"There's a phone call. I didn't hear the news [about Justin]. I was finishing a movie, and I was in the midst of it," Leterrier said. "Then my phone rang, and it was Peter Cramer, the head of production at Universal. We were in touch, but he doesn't call me often, and I texted him, 'Oh, you must have butt-dialed me. Nice to hear from you.'"
Leterrier was hired about a week after Lin's departure
In late April of 2022, news surfaced that Justin Lin parted ways with the "Fast X" production over creative differences — a huge loss considering Lin directed five previous "Fast & Furious" films. The opening for the director's gig didn't last long, though. About a week later, Louis Leterrier received the call that was very much intended for him from Peter Cramer.
"He had explained to me the situation ... Well, he tells me that Justin ended. He didn't tell me the situation," Leterrier told Uproxx. "He said, 'But anyway, we're looking for a new director because we started shooting, and we need you to come.' And it was not like handing me the keys to the kingdom. It was more like, 'Are you available? Would you be interested? Can you read the script?'"
Leterrier added that his answer was "yes" to all three of Cramer's questions. On top of that, the eleventh "Fast & Furious" film secured Leterrier as the director, which is set for a 2025 release. It's still unknown who will helm the twelveth and final "Fast & Furious" film, since Vin Diesel announced that this would be a three-part finale at the "Fast X" premiere in Rome on Friday, May 12, 2023.
"Fast X" is set to open in theaters worldwide on Friday, May 19.