Fast & Furious 6, the newest installment in Fast and Furious franchise, has in common with the other films a central theme of family — a theme that the creators feel is the backbone to the success of the films. Over the course of filming six movies, the cast and crew have become an extended family of their own. Series godfather and producer Neal Moritz has watched as his core team has grown over the years. “The Fast family has been together on and off for almost 14 years, so there is history here,” he offers. “We’ve been making these movies through the birth of children, marriages, and the ups and downs of professional and personal life. Everybody is back because not only did they have a great experience making Fast Five, they loved the movie as much as the audience did. We did something special, and they wanted to see how to grow it with Fast & Furious 6. The range of personalities is all over the place, but it works for this collective chemistry onscreen. The camaraderie offscreen is equally amazing.”
This gets to the heart of Fast & Furious 6: the reunion of Dom and Letty, and to an equal extent, the actors who portray them, Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez. The pair became great friends over the course of filming the first chapter of the series, and that relationship has grown throughout the years. Says Diesel, “There’s something special about Dom and Letty that goes beyond my playing the role, or Michelle playing the role. Theirs is a cherished love and there’s strength in that. The fact that it exists on the wrong side of the tracks is what makes it even that much more intriguing.”
Adds Rodriguez, who admits working with Diesel makes the relationship that much more believable, “The beauty of this story is a love lost and the desperation of not being able to get that back. I’m a sucker for this type of love story. If I’m ever going to re-create that, Vin’s the guy to do it with. I wouldn’t be able to pull it off chemistry-wise with anybody else. Vin and I definitely do not fall under that category of the typical pretty boy and pretty girl. We’re as gritty as its gets. I get along with him so well. It’s onscreen chemistry and also a 13-year friendship, and that’s something audiences can see.”
Fast & Furious 6 is available starting Dec. 13 on Video On Demand. Check your cable system for availability.
©2013 Universal Studios Credit: Giles Keyte