Silver screen legend Rita Moreno experienced the Fast & Furious franchise patriarch’s familial manner firsthand when she flew to London to film a small role in next summer’s blockbuster-to-be, Fast X. The EGOT-winning West Side Story star plays Dom Toretto’s grandmother, Abuela Toretto, in the currently shooting 10th installment in the series.
Nine years ago this month, Paul Walker died in a tragic car accident during the production of 2015’s Furious 7. While his character — Dom’s rival-turned-surrogate brother, Brian O’Conner — remains alive and well in the franchise’s universe, Brian has understandably sat out Team Toretto’s subsequent adventures.
Since 2013, Diesel has made a point of keeping his friend’s spirit alive through emotional social media tributes and in-movie tributes. And Moreno says the latter tradition continued on the Fast X set, which is being overseen by director Louis Leterrier after original helmer, Justin Lin, departed the film earlier this year.
Here's the one and only Rita Moreno dishing on playing Abuela Toretto in #FastX and the touching way the movie pays tribute to Paul Walker. pic.twitter.com/Ov0M4m4iJK
— Ethan Alter (@ethanalter) November 14, 2022
It sounds like Diesel and Moreno are now Fast friends as well. The actor personally recruited her for the part, and announced her casting in a video posted on the franchise’s official YouTube channel earlier this year. “It’s been my dream forever to work with Rita Moreno,” Diesel said at the time. “The fact that she’s here playing my grandmother makes my soul smile. I’m so blessed.”
“He’s a fan,” Moreno marvels now. “Who would have guessed? Vin Diesel is my fan! He thinks I’m swell, and I think the same way. He’s a real family man, by the way. A very serous family man with a gorgeous wife and children.” We can’t wait to see Abuela Toretto get behind the wheel in Fast 11.
