Fast Forever in Trouble? Ludacris Says There's Still No Script and Production Hasn't Started

Fast Forever in Trouble? Ludacris Says There's Still No Script and Production Hasn't Started

If you've been waiting for Fast Forever (aka Fast & Furious 11) to finally wrap up the saga, brace yourself — the latest update is not great news. During a red carpet interview with Variety at the 2026 American Music Awards, Ludacris dropped a bombshell: he hasn't seen a script, and filming hasn't even started yet.

"I'm being honest with you. They can look in my eyes and tell when I'm telling the truth or not," Ludacris told Variety. "We do not have dates of shooting yet. I'm telling you all the truth." He even added that filming would need to begin by the end of 2026 for the movie to make its current release date. "Hopefully it'll happen. We would have to be shooting by the end of this year if it was gonna happen. Hopefully. That's the word I'm going with." (Yeah, "hopefully" doesn't exactly scream confidence.)

Where Did the Movie Go?

The Fast & Furious franchise has been on a wild ride since The Fast and the Furious debuted in 2001, but Fast X — released in 2023 — was the last big-screen outing. That film, directed by Louis Leterrier and starring Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jason Momoa, Tyrese Gibson, and Jordana Brewster, grossed 05 million worldwide against a rumored 40 million budget. Not terrible, but also not the kind of profit margin that makes Universal Pictures eager to greenlight an even bigger sequel.

Back in 2023, Vin Diesel originally announced a 2025 release date for the final film. Then it got pushed to 2026, then 2027, and now the official calendar slot is March 17, 2028. That's a lot of delay for a movie that, according to Ludacris, hasn't even started shooting. In a Wall Street Journal report from October 2025, sources claimed the script still wasn't finalized and studio executives were pushing filmmakers to reduce the budget — a far cry from the explosive 40 million Fast X production.

Will Fast Forever Actually End the Franchise?

Despite the delays, Universal is still billing Fast Forever as the grand finale of the main timeline. Louis Leterrier is set to return as director, and Vin Diesel has reportedly been emotional about properly closing out the series — especially after his tearful tribute to Paul Walker at the franchise's 25th anniversary screening at the Cannes Film Festival 2026, where Meadow Walker also appeared on stage.

Ludacris did mention one twist: he now has a producer credit on Fast Forever, which suggests he's more involved behind the scenes than ever before. He also briefly acknowledged rumors of spin-off television shows, saying "I just heard about that, man. We shall see" — hinting that even if the main saga ends, the Fast universe might live on through streaming.

For now, though, fans should manage their expectations. Without a locked script, a production start date, or even confirmation that the March 2028 release will hold, Fast Forever is still very much a work in progress. The clock is ticking — and it's running fast.