No matter how passionate a Vin Diesel or Fast & Furious fan you are, for the past 20 years, the Fast and the Furious series has consistently delivered action films of the highest standard. The popularity is due to more than just the stunts.
The series is intriguing because of how well the performers and characters get along, but it also has an unexpected amount of heart, which might be a result of the relationships that have developed in real life over time. (Consolation after the death of Paul Walker and the reappearance of former cast members in succeeding sequels attest to this.)
How far have they come since the original Fast and Furious movie, though? We’re looking for the original cast members and our favorite characters from the whole series to take a look at The Fast and the Furious stars then and now.
1. Vin Diesel
Then:
We had already met Vin Diesel before The Fast and the Furious, but not in this manner. The action legend delivered a superb performance as street racer Dominic Toretto, and the rest is history.
Now:
The Fast and Furious movie series has given us many things, but Vin Diesel is its best contribution. Since taking the lead in the action film twenty years ago, Diesel has revived his character six times and has even announced Fast & Furious 10.
2. Michelle Rodriguez
Then:
Michelle Rodriguez wasn’t as well recognized as she is now when she played Letty Ortiz in the first Fast and the Furious movie. This image depicts the young actress during the movie’s debut in 2001.
Now:
After gaining her big break in The Fast and the Furious, Michelle Rodriguez appeared in hit films like Blue Crush and Resident Evil.
Throughout the Fast and Furious trilogy, the actress has continued to play Vin Diesel’s character’s love interest, but she is still most known for her work in action films.
3. Paul Walker
Then:
Brian O’Conner is one of the most well-known Fast & Furious characters. Paul Walker immediately became a cultural icon after playing the part for the first seven movies in the series.
Now:
Not long after The Fast and the Furious 6 appeared, the terrible death of Paul Walker in a car accident occurred. The actor, who passed away while Furious 7 was being filmed, appeared in the film posthumously. There is a suggestion that the O’Connor persona might return right at the very end of F9.
4. Jordana Brewster
Then:
Jordana Brewster has been a part of the F&F series since the beginning. She rapidly won over fans as Mia Toretto, Dominic Toretto’s sister and Brian O’Connor’s love interest.
Now
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning was Jordana Brewster’s foray into another genre after becoming well-known for her work in action films. She has kept reviving the much-loved Mia character, and you can see her in the most recent F9 film.
5. Rick Yune
Then
You might be familiar with Rick Yune from the first Fast and Furious movie, where he played Johnny Tran. The performer took on the roles of the leader of a Vietnamese gang and Vin Diesel’s bitter rival.
Now
Yune didn’t take part in any other Fast and Furious films, but the actor continued to land action roles. He appeared in the James Bond film Die Another Day in addition to Ninja Assassin and Olympus Has Fallen.
6. Matt Schulze
Then
Matt Schulze played Vince, one of the original crew members, in the first Fast and Furious film. Shulze did not appear in any of the other sequels but did reprise his role in the fifth film, Fast Five.
Now
Just one year after scoring his breakout role in The Fast and the Furious, Matt Schulze co-starred in The Transporter opposite future Fast and Furious cast member Jason Statham. He is well renowned along with Blade and Blade II. (He still has those tattoos, yes.)
7. Ludacris
Then
In the second Fast & Furious film, Ludacris made his acting debut as Tej Parker, a technology prodigy and former racer. Even though it took until the sixth film for him to completely join the team, the wait was rewarded.
Now
The rapper-actor has now appeared as Tej Parker in six Fast flicks. Ludacris continues to balance his acting and music careers.
8. Eva Mendes
Then
Eva Mendes wasn’t particularly well-known when she played Monica Fuentes in the 2003 film 2 Fast 2 Furious. The actress portrayed an undercover U.S. Customs agent who just so happened to fall in love with Brian O’Connor (Paul Walker). The infamous look and drive motion was in fact developed at this point.
Now
After she made an appearance in the Fast and Furious movie, Eva Mendes’ career really took off. Her filmography also includes various additional titles like Between the Pines, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, and Hitch.
9. Tyrese Gibson
Then
However, Tyrese Gibson’s performances in the Fast & Furious series and 2001’s Baby Boy cemented his acting skills. Tyrese Gibson was mostly recognized for his work as a musician. The actor made his acting debut in the 2 Fast 2 Furious series as Roman Pearce.
Now
Tyrese Gibson became a reoccurring character after making his Fast and Furious debut. In between seasons, Gibson appeared in several other well-known films, including Transformers, Legion, and Annapolis.
10. Ja Rule
Then
Ja Rule made an appearance in the original Fast and Furious movie, which no one could ever forget. The rapper had a big impact while playing a relatively small part.
Now
Unfortunately, Ja Rule did not reprise his Edwin character in the long-running series’ sequels. He still performs and makes a living as a rapper. It is well known that he was conned into funding the Fyre Festival.