Oscar-Winning Actress Rita Moreno Set to Play Vin Diesel’s Grandmother in Upcoming “Fast and Furious” Sequel –

Well, I guess that headline kind of gives away the content of this article, eh?

In our continuing quest to keep our loyal reading audience abreast of all of the developments for the latest Fast and Furious sequel (number ten, in case you’re keeping count), we’re happy to bring you as unlikely of a piece of casting news as you’re liable to see this week: According to our “Stop the presses” compatriots over at the ever-loving Variety, no less of an acting legend than the brilliant and beautiful Rita Moreno (West Side Story, Carnal Knowledge) has been tapped to play the grandmother of action star Vin Diesel in Fast X. How did this development happen? Why did this development happen? Read on Dear and Constant Reader and, if nothing else, we’ll at least cover the basics of this intriguing bit of casting news…

 Vin Diesel – the most famous bald thespian to mosey down the pike since Telly Savalas stuck a lollipop in his kisser and uttered the immortal lines, “Who loves ya baby?” – announced today that In the Heights star Rita Moreno has officially inked a deal to portray his character’s grandmother in the Fast and Furious sequel Fast X. In typical Vin Diesel style, the Saving Private Ryan actor unveiled this bit of click-bait worthy news not via an eloquent soliloquy worthy of the Bard, but rather through the sparse devices of social media phenomenon Instagram where he explained that “It’s been my dream forever to work with Rita Moreno. The fact that she’s here playing my grandmother makes my soul smile; I’m so blessed...”

For her part, Moreno – who appeared alongside Diesel looking as lovely as ever – explained that she thought her advanced years were waiting for the action star to invite her into the long-running franchise.

 As we alluded to at the front of this article, the shoot for Fast X, both during pre-production and the actual filming of the movie itself, has been fraught with drama that almost seems to beg a seasoned journalist like Peter Biskind to brush off his old Underwood and write one hell of a behind-the-scenes tell-all. After a very awkward overture from Diesel to Dwayne Johnson to return to the series (a request which The Rock declined), the producer’s wound up casting Jason Momoa and Brie Larson in significant roles in the movie. Moreno joins the cast right on the heels of the film losing its director. So yep, there’s drama a-plenty in them thar hills.

 We’ll keep everyone posted on any news about Fast X which is due in local cinemas everywhere on May 19, 2023!