Louis Leterrier shares how Star Wars still is the base of many franchises as they are aiming to create the same magic

The Star Wars franchise remains one of the most iconic and significant groups of films ever created, as it has truly transcended beyond the mainstream and reached a status that no other piece of media has been able to replicate. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that even Fast X had a Star Wars easter egg hidden away.

Many fans agree that the original Star Wars trilogy, comprising A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of The Jedi is the best trilogy in the whole ethos, as their influence is far-reaching and continues to be replicated even now. There is legitimately nothing in mainstream Western pop culture that doesn’t have a reference to Star Wars somehow.

A still from Star Wars: A New Hope

How Good Was Fast X?

The Fast & Furious franchise is also a longstanding juggernaut franchise in its own right, spanning 10 mainline films and spinoffs as well. While the critical reception for most films has been hit-or-miss, the Box Office numbers do not lie – the franchise is one of the most successful in history.

Fast X was the latest film in the long-running franchise, which was released back in May this year. It primarily focused on Vin Diesel and John Cena’s characters alongside Jason Momoa, who was the villain this time. According to Box Office Mojo, the film grossed $704 million worldwide, becoming the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2023. Critical reception was mixed, as it got a 56% on Rotten Tomatoes and 5.8/10 on IMDB.

Vin Diesel in Fast X

Fast X Had A Subtle Star Wars Reference You Might Have Missed

The influence of Star Wars is evident in the blockbuster tradition it initiated, reaching far beyond the galaxy it initially explored. While speaking with MTV’s Josh Horowitz during a rewatch of The Incredible Hulk, Fast X director Louis Leterrier revealed that he incorporated iconic TIE Fighter sounds from Star Wars.
“Any person in their ’40s or ’50s saying they’re making movies for a different reason than trying to do a Star Wars movie are lying. We are all trying, in a way, to make a Star Wars movie. Even in my last movie, in Fast X, I put TIE Fighter sounds in it. I just cannot help myself.”
In Fast X, viewers can audibly recognize the distinctive screech of the Imperial TIE Fighter, a sound effect crafted by Oscar-winner Ben Burtt. Therefore, this homage to Star Wars was a sign of true respect for George Lucas’ epic space opera saga.

Jason Momoa in Fast X

It is certainly great to see that Fast X paid such a unique homage to Star Wars, as it simply goes to show how influential and iconic Star Wars truly is. As for the next installment in the Fast & Furious franchise, the eleventh film will be released on April 4, 2025. We’ll have to wait and see how it will turn out once it releases in 2025.