The Dark Knight Rises Star Almost Led This Underrated Fast & Furious Sequel

A star from The Dark Knight Rises was almost the lead in one of The Fast and the Furious franchise’s films. Before he was cruising dreamscapes in Inception, Joseph Gordon-Levitt from The Dark Knight Rises, who played the role of Blake in the movie, was almost the lead in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt almost led Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift

When plans for Vin Diesel or Paul Walker to headline the third Fast & Furious film fell through, the series pivoted to a new character: Sean Boswell, an American teenager who discovers the world of drift racing in Tokyo. Director Justin Lin, who was in the director’s seat, saw immense potential in Joseph Gordon-Levitt for the role.

Lin was so keen on the idea that he personally met with him, even hosting their meeting in the editing room for his film Annapolis to show his directorial style. This professional courtship suggested a deal was imminent. However, the final say did not rest with Lin alone.

According to the book Welcome To The Family: The Explosive Story Behind Fast & Furious, The Blockbusters That Supercharged The World by Barry Hertz, Universal Studios executives expressed reservations. The studio felt nervous about Gordon-Levitt’s ability to carry a major blockbuster as a “big-screen leading man,” considering that he was better known for his television work on 3rd Rock from the Sun and smaller independent films.

Following Universal’s concerns, the role of Sean Boswell went to Lucas Black, who joined the project after Channing Tatum’s unsuccessful audition. Black had recently appeared in Friday Night Lights and was viewed as an emerging talent who fit the studio’s plans to keep the film’s costs in check.

The decision also resulted in changes to the character. The early concept reportedly included a half-Japanese background, which was dropped after Black’s casting. Though Gordon-Levitt has since become the more recognizable star, he has never appeared in the Fast Saga, even with Lin returning to direct multiple entries. Black, meanwhile, reprised Sean Boswell years later in Furious 7 and F9.

Source: Comingsoon.net