Once you’re with Vin Diesel, you are household. Silver display screen legend Rita Moreno skilled the Quick & Livid franchise patriarch’s familial method firsthand when she flew to London to movie a small function in subsequent summer season’s blockbuster-to-be, Quick X. The EGOT-winning West Facet Story star performs Dom Toretto’s grandmother, Abuela Toretto, within the currently-shooting tenth installment within the collection, and tells Yahoo Leisure that the expertise was “pretty.”
“I went all the best way to London for that, as a result of that is the place they shoot these motion pictures,” Moreno revealed whereas discussing her upcoming Lifetime vacation film, Santa Bootcamp. “I had two scenes that occurred in her little yard. It was alleged to be a dinner with all of his individuals — all of them come to Abuela’s home for a beautiful dinner.”
However one essential Quick & Livid member of the family could not attend Abuela’s gathering in particular person. 9 years in the past this month, Paul Walker died in a tragic automotive accident in the course of the manufacturing of 2015’s Livid 7. Whereas his character — Dom’s rival-turned-surrogate brother, Brian O’Conner — stays alive and effectively within the franchise’s universe, Brian has understandably sat out Workforce Toretto’s subsequent adventures. (Walker’s brothers, Caleb and Cody, served as stand-ins for the rest of the Livid 7 shoot, and a few have speculated that they may fill in once more for a possible Brian cameo in Quick X.)
Since 2013, Diesel has made a degree of holding his pal’s spirit alive via emotional social media tributes and in-movie tributes. (Diesel can also be the godfather of Walker’s daughter, Meadow, and walked her down the aisle final yr for her marriage ceremony to Louis Thornton-Allan.) And Moreno says the latter custom continued on the Quick X set, which is being overseen by director Louis Leterrier after unique helmer, Justin Lin, departed the movie earlier this yr.
“There was an empty chair [at the table],” she recollects. “I mentioned, ‘Who’s supposed to sit down on this one?’ They mentioned, ‘Paul.’ I assumed, ‘Wow, that was actually so touching.’ [Vin] actually beloved him. That they had a beautiful relationship.”
It appears like Diesel and Moreno at the moment are Quick mates as effectively. The actor personally recruited her for the half, and introduced her casting in a video posted on the franchise’s official YouTube channel earlier this yr. “It has been my dream perpetually to work with Rita Moreno,” Diesel mentioned on the time. “The truth that she’s right here enjoying my grandmother makes my soul smile. I am so blessed.”
“He is a fan,” Moreno marvels now. “Who would have guessed? Vin Diesel is my fan! He thinks I am swell, and I feel the identical approach. He is an actual household man, by the best way. A really serous household man with a beautiful spouse and youngsters.” We will not wait to see Abuela Toretto get behind the wheel in Quick 11.
Quick X races into theaters on Might 19, 2023
