Academy-Award-winning actress Rita Moreno has joined the cast of Universal Pictures' upcoming action film,Fast X. Vin Diesel announced the news today in a video shared to his personal social media account, in which he was joined by the veteran actress.
Moreno is just the latest star to join the cast of the upcoming tenth installment of Universal Pictures’Fast and Furiousfranchise.Aquamanstar Jason Momoa will reportedly play the film’s antagonist, although the details of his role are undisclosed at this time. The most recent installment of the franchise,F9, sawPeacemakeractor John Cenajoin that cast as Diesel’s estranged brother.F9alsofeatured several emotional flashback scenes, which gave fans more insight into Diesel’s characters' backstory and complex family history.
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In the video announcement, Diesel states that it has always been his dream to work with Moreno, saying that the fact that she’s now playing his grandmother makes his “soul smile.” Moreno shares her excitement in the video, joking that her old age was waiting for Diesel to invite her. Moreno says that she’s not only agreed to the role but also that she’s “tickled” and “thrilled” to be joining the cast, much to Diesel’s excitement. The video ends withco-star Michelle Rodriquezexcitedly chanting Moreno’s name.
At the incredible age of 90, Moreno has a lengthy career in Hollywood. She is perhaps best known for her Oscar-winning role in the 1963 film adaptation ofWest Side Story,where she played the role of Anita. Moreno was also featured in Steven Spielberg’s 2021 film adaptation ofWest Side Story,however, she played an original character who served as a mentor for protagonist Tony (Ansel Elgort). Spielberg’s film was nominated for numerous awards, andactress Ariana DeBosewon an Academy Award for the same role that earned Moreno her win almost 60 years ago.
While the high octaneFast and Furiousfranchise is often associated with muscular men like Diesel and Cena, the series has also seen its fair share of female leads and older Hollywood veterans. Previous installments saw esteemedBritish actress Helen Mirrenstep into the role of Jason Statham’s mother, and actor Kurt Russel has portrayed the secretive government agent Mr. Nobody in severalFastfilms.
Diesel and Universal Pictures are likely searching for some good PR forFast Xafter director Justin Lin recently and unexpectedly stepped away from the project several weeks into production. Rumors about the news have been swirling online for a few weeks now, but it appears that the primary reasons for Lin’s departure are due to the difficult demands from the studio and from Diesel. This is not the first time the franchise has been met with some controversy, as Diesel’s previous co-starDwayne Johnson also left the franchise, citing Diesel’s unprofessional and difficult behavior as the primary reason.
Fast Xis scheduled to be released in theaters on June 14, 2025.
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