‘I am still crying’: Why is Vin Diesel calling ‘Fast Forever’ the best script in decades?

Vin Diesel has given fans of the ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise a major reason to get excited. The actor recently revealed that he has read the script for ‘Fast Forever’, the highly anticipated 11th installment in the blockbuster action series, and his reaction has moved curiosity across the internet.

Taking to Instagram, Diesel praised screenwriter Michael Lesslie's work, writing, “I just read the Fast Forever script by Michael Lesslie. It is the best script I have read in decades. I am still crying…” His heartfelt message has invited speculation about how the franchise plans to conclude one of Hollywood’s biggest action sagas.

But Diesel didn’t stop there. Alongside his post, he shared the trailer for the theatrical re-release of the original ‘The Fast and the Furious’, which returns to cinemas on August 21 to celebrate its 25th anniversary.

The 2001 film introduced audiences to Dominic Toretto and Brian O’Conner, played by the late Paul Walker, and laid the foundation for one of the highest-grossing action franchises in cinema history.

In another intriguing tease, Diesel hinted that ‘Fast Forever’ will have a meaningful connection to the very first movie. “You will thank God you got to see the first one in the theaters this summer,” he wrote, suggesting that revisiting the original film could make the upcoming sequel even more rewarding for longtime fans.

‘The Fast and the Furious’ starred Vin Diesel alongside Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Rick Yune and Chad Lindberg. The film went on to earn more than $207 million worldwide (not adjusted for inflation), launching a franchise that has spanned over two decades.

‘Fast Forever’ follows 2023’s ‘Fast X’, which grossed approximately $704 million worldwide. The film ended on a dramatic cliffhanger and surprised audiences with post-credit appearances from Gal Gadot and Dwayne Johnson, setting the stage for the next chapter.

Also Read: Paul Walker returns? Vin Diesel teases Dom and Brian reunion in new title ‘Fast Forever’

The upcoming film will once again be directed by Louis Leterrier, known for ‘The Transporter’ and ‘The Incredible Hulk’. Meanwhile, Michael Lesslie officially joined the project as the screenwriter earlier this year, rewriting a previous draft by Aaron Rabin and Zach Dean.

Lesslie’s writing credits include ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’, ‘Macbeth’, ‘Assassin’s Creed’, ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’, and ‘Hamlet’ starring Riz Ahmed. He also wrote the screenplay for the upcoming ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’, scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 20, while serving as an executive producer on ‘The Rescue’ and ‘Thirteen Lives’.

One line from Diesel's post has fans gripping on, "You will thank God you got to see the first one in the theaters this summer." Is it simply nostalgia, or is ‘Fast Forever’ hiding a major callback that only longtime fans will fully understand?

Until more details emerge, that question may be the biggest clue about where the ‘Fast & Furious’ saga is headed next.