Fast X: Part Two hits a roadblock amid $250 million budget dispute
Universal reportedly refuses to move forward with Fast X: Part Two until costs drop by 20%.
The road to the final chapter of the Fast & Furious saga has hit a major speed bump. Two years after the release of Fast X, which ended on a dramatic cliffhanger, Universal Pictures has yet to officially greenlight the next installment, tentatively titled Fast X: Part Two. The core issue, according to a recent report from The Wall Street Journal, is a fierce disagreement over the film’s massive budget.
Studio executives have reportedly told the filmmakers they will not move forward with production until they can slash the current cost by approximately 20%. The latest draft of the script would require an estimated $250 million to produce, a figure that is $50 million over the $200 million budget cap Universal is reportedly demanding. The current standstill means the film lacks an approved script, an official release date, and deals with most of its highly paid principal cast members.
A financial change is in the roadway
Universal’s hardline stance stems directly from the box office performance of 2023’s Fast X. Despite grossing a respectable $705 million worldwide, the film was the franchise’s lowest-grossing entry in over a decade. More critically, its production budget soared to an exorbitant $340 million. When factoring in global marketing costs, the film reportedly struggled to generate the significant profit margins the studio expects from its tentpole franchises. This is a stark reversal of fortune for a series that saw its biggest hits, such as Furious 7 and The Fate of the Furious, comfortably cross the $1 billion mark.
Adding to the complexity are the ambitious plans being touted by franchise star Vin Diesel. The leading man, who plays Dominic Toretto, previously claimed that the finale was set for an April 2027 release, even though Universal has not officially confirmed that date.
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