Just like the Fast and Furious movies themselves, the budget for the upcoming Fast X has reportedly gone off the rails.
According to The Wrap, Fast X's cost has grown to a jaw-dropping $340 million, significantly higher than F9's estimated $200 million budget.
From the outside, it's not hard to see how Fast X's budget got out of control. In addition to rising production costs and increased salaries for returning cast members, Fast X also features a couple of new high-profile names like Jason Momoa and Brie Larson.
The Fast and Furious Movies in (Chronological) Order
Then there's the drama surrounding Fast X's director situation. Longtime Fast franchise director Justin Lin stepped down from Fast X in April, reportedly due to a blowup with star Vin Diesel. Replacing Lin was costing Universal up to $1 million per day to keep the production in limbo. Universal also delayed Fast X one month from April 2023 to May.
The Fast and Furious franchise has consistently been a cash cow for Universal, so it's likely Fast X will still turn a profit even with its enormous price tag. 2021's F9 earned over $725 million at the worldwide box office, setting post-pandemic records at the time. Recovery at the box office in general and the fact that Fast X is the beginning of the end for the saga could lead to an even higher total for this film.
However, that hasn't fully assuaged concerns that it will be more difficult to see profit returns on what is becoming the most costly film in the Fast franchise.
Fast X will serve as the first half of a two-part finale for the Fast and Furious franchise. If you need to catch up on the series before Fast X, here's how to watch the Fast and Furious movies in order.
Just don't get too attached to Dwayne Johnson's Luke Hobbs, as The Rock has declined Vin Diesel's request to return for Fast X.
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over six years of experience in the gaming industry with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.