Back in 2001,The Fast and the FuriousputVin DieselandPaul Walkeron the map like never before. With this street racing action flick, directorRob Cohenlikely didn’t know he was about to launch one of the biggest film franchises of the 21st century. More than that, there’s no way that Walker or Diesel had any clue themselves. And yet, with nine sequels, a spin-off, and a children’s animated series, theFast & Furiousfranchise has grown well beyond expectation. But did you know that the original film could’ve ended a bit differently? Had Cohen and company stuck with this alternate ending, it may have changed the franchise drastically moving forward.
The Fast and the Furious
Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) enjoys the adrenaline of street car racing and his fans treat him like a rock star. After a blazing encounter with the ruthless Johnny Tran, Dom decides to take Brian (Paul Walker), a newcomer to street racing, under his wing. Dom’s sister Mia sees something she likes in Brian, too. Trouble is, neither of them realize he’s an undercover cop, and Dominic and his rival Johnny Tran are both the prime suspects in a case involving dirty money and big-rig hijacking.
How Did ‘The Fast and the Furious’ Almost End?
In the deleted ending toThe Fast and the Furious, titled “Moving Out,” Brian O’Connor (Walker) is let go by the Los Angeles Police Department, who for some reason opt not to press charges against their turncoat officer. But instead of going home and figuring out his next move, Brian is shuttled to the Toretto house, where he finds Mia (Jordana Brewster) packing things up in the garage. Though he can’t help but ask if she knows where Dom (Diesel) is, the subject quickly changes to their relationship.Because of Brian’s betrayal, any genuine feelings Mia felt for the guy are muddled, and she’s unsure if she can trust him again.
Of course,Brian fights for her anyway, and the scene ends with a hopeful finish that alludes to a future reconciliation. After everything they’d been through, and Brian’s willingness to help Dom despite his duties as a cop, it makes sense that Mia would consider taking him back, even after such a big lie. Also, Brian offers to help her with packing up the place but then stands idly by as the camera pans over to the Los Angeles skyline, which is both strange and amusing. Where the two of them would’ve gone after this is uncertain, but this ending would’ve no doubt made2 Fast 2 Furiousa different movie entirely––though maybe that would’ve been a good thing.
AsThe Fast and the Furiousstands,the original film actually ends with Brian handing Dom the keys to his Supra after nearly deciding to arrest him. The pair come to a mutual understanding and the street racer gets away without another word. A post-credits scene reveals that Dom got away, having fled to Mexico, but we don’t hear from Brian (or Mia) again this time around. In fact,Mia isn’t seen again until the fourth movie,Fast & Furious, which is also the next picture in the series to reunite Brian and Dom (who both appear independently during the third and fourth movies).
Brian and Mia Being Together Could’ve Shifted the Franchise
EndingThe Fast and the Furiouswith Brian and Mia together would’ve likely shifted the franchise in an entirely new direction. For starters,2 Fast 2 Furioustakes Brian to Miami where he makes his living as a street racer before being conscribed by the FBIto take down a drug lord named Carter Verone (played byYellowstone’s very ownCole Hauser). The sequel (the only one not to feature Vin Diesel in any capacity) ended up introducing recurring characters to the franchise, and while it’s certainly the weakest link in the series, it has proved important in the meantime. But, had the LAPD just let Brian go,none of it would’ve happened.
‘Fast & Furious’ Would’ve Been Completely Different Without David Ayer
Would the original concept have ever lead to the globe-trotting spy franchise we have today?
This would mean that characters like Roman Pierce (Tyrese Gibson) and Tej Parker (Chris “Ludacris” Bridges) may never have existed in Fast & Furious, which would’ve been a serious change to the franchise’s dynamic. Given that Gibson and Bridges have appeared in all but three installments in The Fast Saga, it would be strange to imagine the series without them. Additionally,the consequences of Brian’s betrayal are meant to be serious, and by removing them, nothing is driving the former LAPD officer’s exploits in the sequel. The franchise already has a major issue with a serious lack of consequences (namely, dead characters who won’t stay dead), so forgetting about Brian’s actions this early in the saga wouldn’t bode well for the immediate sequels.
In contrast towhat we see in the deleted alternate ending,The Turbo Charged Prelude to 2 Fast 2 Furiousexplains what happened to Brian after letting Dom go and before settling on the opposite coast. On the run from the police, he travels across the country, seemingly forgetting about Mia entirely as he’s welcomed by Miami girls upon riding into town. While the alternate ending may have been more emotionally satisfying, it’s less realistic and would’ve seriously changed the wayThe Fast Sagaplayed out.
Brian and Mia Get Their Happy Fast & Furious Ending
Any longtimeFast & Furiousfan will note that, eventually, Brian and Mia do get their happy ending. After being reunited in the fourth film, the pair eventually rekindle their relationship. ByFast Five(arguably the best ofThe Fast Sagasequels) Mia is pregnant with their firstborn son, Jack, and byFast & Furious 6they are essentially retired from their life of crime. Naturally, that doesn’t quite stick, and they continue to be involved in all of Dom’s schemes. InFurious 7, they’re expecting another child, though Brian “misses the bullets.” Thankfully, by the end of the seventh film,Brian recognizes his need to be there for his family, and he officially retires from “the life,” sticking things out with Mia, Jack, and their new child.
While Brian has yet toofficially return to the franchisedue to the death of actorPaul Walkerin 2013, he’s been referenced several times (and has even reappeared in flashbacks) as being the one in charge of keeping the Toretto crew’s children all safe while missions are afoot.Mia returnedin bothF9andFast Xto help Dom andtheir makeshift familyagainst Jakob Toretto (John Cena) and Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa), but Brian has kept out of the public eye since his retirement. While many fans anxiously await more news on Brian’s fate with the upcoming eleventh and final installment, we know that,at the very least, he and Mia found happiness together in the end. The alternate ending toThe Fast and the Furiousmight not have been included in the final product, but the results can be seen throughout The Fast Saga.
The Fast and the Furiousis available to rent on Prime Video in the U.S.
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