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5 Ways Cypher From The Matrix Is The Best Villain (& 5 Ways Cipher From Fast & Furious Is Better)

The Fate of the Furious might be one of the worst Fast & Furious movies according to MetaCritic, but it was the first film in the series to feature a genuinely sadistic villain. Cipher is an outright murderer, a master manipulator, and completely selfish, but she isn’t the only one.

RELATED: The 10 Craziest Action Sequences From The Fast & Furious Franchise, Ranked
It’s no coincidence that Cipher from Fate of the Furious and Cypher from The Matrix share the same name, as the word is the meaning for a message written in code. Considering that they’re both hackers in their respective movies, they have a lot of similarities. Though Cypher won’t be returning in Matrix 4, he’s the series’ most sadistic villain, and the biggest difference between them might just be the way their names are spelled.

Cypher: Creepy

Joe Pantoliano as Cypher in The Matrix 1999.

Though The Matrix would look a lot different if it was recast today, Joe Pantoliano was perfectly cast as Cypher, as he brings his typical antagonistic creepiness to the role. Pantoliano has replicated what he did in The Matrix in so many movies, whether it’s Memento or Daredevil, but the creepiness in The Matrix can never be outdone. The moment he’s whispering in Trinity’s ear about how he thought they’d end up together while sitting on top of her is especially disgusting, as there’s nothing she can do about it because she’s plugged into The Matrix.

Cipher: Hacking Genius

Cipher in Fate of the Furious

The Matrix’s Cypher might be good at coding, but it’s nothing compared to what Fast’s Cipher can do behind a computer. Cipher’s weapon in Fate of the Furious isn’t any kind of gun or blunt instrument, it’s a desktop computer.
Her evil lair is filled with dozens of touch screen monitors that give her the ability to do just about anything. She has been able to hack into vehicles and literally have them drive themselves out of a multi-story car park in the middle of New York, and even have missiles shoot out of submarines.

Cypher: Sinister

Tank.

In many ways, Cypher is a much better theatrical villain than Cipher, but that’s also his downfall and the reason he ends up getting killed. Falling into the typical trope of explaining his grand scheme before killing Trinity and Neo, he takes too long and gets shot by Tank.
RELATED: Fast & Furious: 5 Reasons Why The Franchise Should Keep Going (& 5 Why It’s Time To Stop)
However, up to that point, Cypher was picking off all of Trinity’s friends one at a time right in front of her. They all knew it was coming and there was nothing any of them could do. Though Cypher was doing this so he could escape the real world, he went about it in such an evil way.

Cipher: Tries To Tear The Family Apart

Cipher and Dom talk in Fate of the Furious

As everyone knows at this point, the Fast & Furious series is about one thing; family. Dom and his friends are one of the tightest clans in movie history, but when Cipher gets her claws on Dom, it leads to a whole breakdown in the family dynamic. Cipher kisses Dom in front of Letty and then goes on to make the gang believe Don is completely evil and puts them in extreme danger.

Cypher: Manipulative

Cypher grinning.

Cypher is smart, and as soon as he meets Neo he starts planting seeds in his head and tells him that Morpheus might not be as great as he seems. Cypher almost gets in Neo’s head by relating to him on a personal level and saying he wished he had taken the blue pill when he was first asked. Though the audience can clearly tell Cypher is going to turn on the crew, Neo is none the wiser. Even when speaking with Trinity, he tries to make her feel bad for falling for Neo.

Cipher: Even More Manipulative

Cipher inside her plane in The Fate Of The Furious

When it came to the marketing and the trailers leading up to the release of Fate, the internet was shocked at Dom’s turn to the dark side. Many fans speculated that it was mind control considering how ridiculous the series has gotten and how there are no limits to where the next movies can go. But that isn’t exactly what happened. It turned out that Cipher was black-mailing Dom all along, making her much more overtly manipulative than Cypher.

Cypher: Actively Chooses To Go Behind His Friends’ Backs

Cypher glamorizing his steak in The Matrix

Cypher had spent a long time with the crew in the Nebuchadnezzar, and none of them had ever wronged him, including Trinity refusing his advances.
RELATED: Fast & Furious: 10 Questions About Dominic Toretto, Answered
However, even if audiences can agree with Cypher’s personal beliefs, he made a deal with Agent Smith and turned his back on his friends. Cypher would go on to try to kill his former friends, and even succeeded in with some of them.

Cipher: Murders Elena

Cipher about to kiss Dom

The villains in the series are why The Fast and the Furious are better as a series, there wasn’t much in the way of sinister villains in the later movies. The worst thing any villain had done in the series was when Carter Verone put a rat on a guy’s chest in 2 Fast 2 Furious. However, that all changed with Fate, as Cipher is completely ruthless and cold-blooded. Not only did she murder Elena in front of Dom, but she murdered Elena in front of her own child.

Cypher: Kills Dozer In Cold Blood

Cypher attacking Dozer and Tank.

Dozer and Tank, the pilots of Nebuchadnezzar, were attacked by Cypher during his betrayal. Though it should not have been, Cypher made it personal. The villain had such a disdain for Morpheus for pulling him out of The Matrix that he took it out on everyone else. Essentially, Tank and Dozer were in the same boat as him, but Cypher still shot them with the lightning rifle. Of course, Tank ended up surviving and getting revenge on Cypher.

Cipher: Cypher Actually Makes A Good Point

Charlize Theron as Cipher in Fate of the Furious.

It isn’t hard to understand where Cypher is coming from, and he’s arguably one of the villains that is actually a hero. If The Matrix was real and any normal human being was put in Cypher’s situation, most people would much rather live in blissful ignorance in The Matrix, just like him.
Sitting in a dingy hovercraft, eating the same old slop day after day, and being at war against an alien race is bleak enough, but being pulled from a life of socializing and eating steak to do those things is even worse. Cypher just wants a normal life, but Cipher, on the other hand, wants total world domination and is willing to start a nuclear war to get what she wants.
NEXT: Fast & Furious: 10 Characters That Deserve Their Own Spin-Off Movie

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Fast & Furious 11 Release Delay & Filming Start Date Confirmed By Director

Summary

Fast and Furious 11
is facing a release date delay to Summer 2026 due to strikes, with director Louis Leterrier confirming the sequel will not be hitting its April 4, 2025 date.
Leterrier also confirms that filming starts in Fall 2025 after finishing a horror movie in September.
The final installment in the
Fast Saga
reunites Vin Diesel’s Dominic Toretto for one last ride, while also leaving the door open for other spinoffs.

After facing multiple delays due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America strikes, Fast and Furious 11 is seeing its release date delayed. The next installment in the Vin Diesel-fronted franchise is expected to be the last mainline sequel, while development continues on the Dwayne Johnson-led spinoff Hobbs & Reyes, a mysterious standalone movie penned by Fast X’s Zach Dean and a potential female-led spinoff. While a filming start date was never confirmed, Universal had previously set the movie for an April 2025 release date.

During a recent interview with Collider at a CCXP MX panel, Louis Leterrier was asked for an update on Fast and Furious 11. The director went on to confirm that the final mainline installment in the action franchise will no longer be making its April 4, 2025 release date, instead now aiming for a Summer 2026 release window with the filming start date being set for this fall. Check out what Leterrier said below:

It’s happening. It’s happening very, very soon. I’m able to shoot a little horror movie this summer. I’m finishing my horror movie on September 15th, and I start Fast on September 16th.

Will Fast 11’s Multiple Delays Help Or Hurt The Sequel?

Much like the tenth film before it, Fast and Furious 11 has faced a few behind-the-scenes hardships in its road to getting off the ground, namely the delays stemming from the 2023 strikes. While the latest movie seems to have retained its core creative team in comparison to the shift in directors from franchise vet Justin Lin to Leterrier on Fast X after reported creative differences between the former and Diesel, this change didn’t seem to help much with the continued downward trend recent sequels have seen from critics. Check out how the franchise’s Rotten Tomatoes scores compare below:

Title RT Critical Score RT Audience Score The Fast and the Furious 54% 74% 2 Fast 2 Furious 37% 50% The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift 37% 69% Fast & Furious 28% 67% Fast Five 78% 83% Fast & Furious 6 71% 84% Furious 7 81% 82% The Fate of the Furious 67% 72% Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw 67% 88% F9: The Fast Saga 59% 82% Fast X 56% 84%

Even looking outside the Fast and Furious franchise, many movie sequels have found themselves hurt by various delays, be they from creative changes, general release shifts or other factors. The action genre in particular is one in which lengthier development periods can lead to diminishing returns, be it A Good Day to Die Hard, Rambo: Last Blood or Diesel’s own xXx: The Return of Xander Cage. While Fast and Furious 11 may only be getting pushed back by a year, the delay is nonetheless a concern that the final installment could find itself in trouble.

Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) looking angry with Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) looking unimpressed in Fast & Furious

Related 10 Most Exciting Things To Expect From Fast 11 Fast & Furious 11 will pull all the strings to become bigger than the previous installments, and here is why the film is worth being excited about.

On the other hand, the longer wait for Fast and Furious 11 to close out the mainline series of movies could actually prove beneficial for the sequel. Though Leterrier may be busy with another project in the lead-up to filming the next installment, writers Oren Uziel and Christina Hodson should now have more than enough time to really look back at the script and ensure it learns from the critical missteps of recent installments to deliver a satisfying conclusion to the Dominic Toretto saga.

Source: Collider

Fast and Furious 11 temp poster Fast and Furious 11 Fast and Furious 11 is the final movie in the Fast Saga. It reunites Vin Diesel’s Dominic Toretto with the rest of the cast for one last ride. However, the franchise is open for spinoff films like Hobbs & Shaw afterward.Director Louis Leterrier Release Date April 4, 2025 Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers Christina Hodson , Oren Uziel

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Vin Diesel Already Has His Perfect Fast & Furious Replacement Franchise With 51-Year-Old Remake

Summary

Vin Diesel’s dominance in Fast & Furious is ending, but Kojak could kick off a new action franchise for him.
Kojak’s reboot faces an uncertain future, but its similarity to Fast & Furious makes it a worthy project for Diesel.
Diesel’s potential shift from criminal racer to cop signifies a fresh start in a possible Fast & Furious-like series.

Vin Diesel’s days of playing Dominic Toretto are numbered, but the actor has already found his perfect Fast & Furious replacement. Diesel found a major breakout role in the early 2000s thanks to participating in The Fast and the Furious. The original 2001 street racing crime movie became the springboard for a sprawling franchise that has lasted for over two decades. The success of the Fast & Furious movies transformed Vin Diesel’s career, turning him into an even bigger star, especially in the action movie genre. But, Fast & Furious 11 is planned as the final chapter for him and the franchise.

The Fast & Furious franchise’s end will put Vin Diesel in an unfamiliar position of not having a major franchise to lean back on. This presents the actor with various options, such as changing the course of his career to pursue non-franchise roles. However, the more likely outcome is that Diesel will attempt to find a new IP that can replace Fast & Furious. He has had trouble in that regard recently, with franchises like xXx or Riddick running cold and Bloodshot and The Last Witch Hunter failing to launch franchises. There is another option for Diesel, though.

2:03 Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto from The Fast & Furious Franchise

Related Vin Diesel May Have Spoiled Fast & Furious 11’s Ending With $2.7 Billion Movie Comparison Dom’s death happening in Fast & Furious 11 may have been spoiled already, with Vin Diesel comparing the upcoming movie to another big franchise.

Kojak Can Be Vin Diesel’s New Action Crime Franchise After Fast & Furious
Diesel Has Been Developing The Reboot Since 2015

The impending conclusion of the Fast & Furious franchise means it is finally time for Vin Diesel’s Kojak reboot to get off the ground. The project was announced back in 2015 with Diesel re-teaming with Universal Pictures, the studio behind Fast & Furious, to develop a movie based on Kojak. The original TV series starred Telly Savalas as Theo Kokaj and ran for three seasons after debuting in 1973. The series revolves around Kojak, a New York detective known for being willing to go beyond the law and a love for cars and lollipops, and follows him as he investigates different cases.

Kojak was rebooted in 2005 as a TV show starring Ving Rhames, but it only ran for six episodes

Development on Vin Diesel’s Kojak movie has not been very active in the nine years since it was announced. However, it still maintains the base similarities to Fast & Furious, which makes the project a worthwhile endeavor for Diesel in terms of finding a new action franchise. He would now have another big action series about cars and crime, essentially making Kojak into a newer version of Fast & Furious. The irony here is that Diesel takes on the role of a cop after playing criminal racer Dominic Toretto.

Vin Diesel’s Involvement Can Morph Kojak Into A Major Action Franchise
Kojak Could Be A Fast & Furious Clone
Telly Savalas talking on the phone in Kojak

Looking at the original TV show, Kojak might not necessarily project to be a major blockbuster action franchise akin to Fast & Furious. The TV series was relatively grounded and small due to the nature of its production. However, the fact that Diesel and Universal pinpointed this property as something they wanted to revive together is telling. The announcement of Kojak’s reboot came months after Furious 7 debuted in theaters and took the franchise to new heights at the box office and in terms of how ridiculously big the action and story could get.

It’s sometimes difficult to remember that Fast & Furious started off with a story about DVD thieves who were also street racers before Diesel helped turn it into something much bigger. With that experience and success already behind him, it would be understandable if a similar path was envisioned for Kojak. The series could then morph into a Fast & Furious clone, one that gives Vin Diesel a new franchise to headline and Universal a “fresh” action franchise to grow.

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The Rock’s WWE Run Means Fast & Furious 11 Must Make 1 Major Hobbs Change

Summary

Hobbs from Fast & Furious 11 needs a gritty edge like The Rock’s WWE character to keep the franchise fresh and exciting.
The Rock’s time away from the Fast & Furious universe provides the perfect reason for Hobbs to return with a personal vendetta and a more savage attitude.
While Hobbs shouldn’t become a full-fledged villain in Fast & Furious 11, adding some edginess and dirty tricks could make his character more intriguing and dynamic.

Fast & Furious 11 must make one major Hobbs change after The Rock’s incredible WWE run. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s WWE return surpassed his recent movies, with the actor creating some of the best work of his career. Having returned to a thunderous reception, The Rock was able to flip the crowd’s reception by becoming a heel and playing a major part in WrestleMania’s main events. The Rock hasn’t played a villain on screen for years, as even his depiction of Black Adam lent more into the character’s anti-hero side, which made his wrestling run all the more refreshing.

While his wrestling character may not perfectly translate into the Fast & Furious universe, there is one aspect of The Rock’s WWE run that the franchise should attempt to implement. After debuting in Fast Five, The Rock’s best Fast & Furious scenes helped contribute to the movie series becoming so popular, with Luke Hobbs becoming an instrumental part of the story. He was even given his own spinoff alongside Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) and is set to get a solo movie in the future. Despite this, Hobbs would still benefit from adding one key aspect of The Rock’s WWE run.

The Rock’s WWE Run Proves Fast & Furious 11 Needs To Give Hobbs More Of An Edge
Fast & Furious Would Benefit From Hobbs Adopting Some Of The Rock’s WWE Tendancies
Dwayne The Rock Johnson in Black Adam, WWE, and Hobbs and Shaw

Given how electrifying The Rock’s recent WWE run was, there is no doubt Fast & Furious 11 needs to give Hobbs more of an edge. Although the character has had his more serious moments, like most of the Fast & Furious cast, Hobbs tends to mix action with comedy. Hobbs and Shaw are supposed to be two of the more stoic heroes, yet they are constantly at each other’s throats and cracking jokes to help maintain the franchise’s lighthearted core. However, giving Hobbs a grittier side would help the character thrive upon his return.

The Rock’s Fast & Furious return may redeem Fast X’s box office, but the character needs to come back stronger than ever. By allowing him to be more ruthless, he can still maintain some elements of comedy but also become more interesting in the process. Johnson proved that despite being a detestable heel, he was still as hilarious as ever during his recent WWE tenure. This proves that he can maintain Fast & Furious’ tone and humorous style while being more layered; therefore, Hobbs adopting some of The Rock’s WWE characteristics could make him even more entertaining.

Fast & Furious Already Has A Reason For Hobbs To Be More Savage
Hobbs Has Been Away From The Franchise For Several Years

Making a major change to Hobbs’ character could be tough to explain, but Fast & Furious 11 already has a great reason to make him more savage. His four-year absence from the franchise gives him a perfect excuse to come back with a vengeance and potentially have a personal attachment to Fast & Furious 11’s villains. Hobbs’ time away from the main story could be explained through a connection to Fast X’s secondary villain, Aimes. Aimes’ villain twist in Fast X was well executed and suggests he’ll be around for the sequel, which is the perfect reason to bring back Hobbs.

Having a more personal story with one of the villains could allow Hobbs to continue his great quips and one-liners, but it would also give him more of an edge.

Fast X never explained why he’s back, but having a personal vendetta against Aimes could be an intriguing reason. Given Dom and Dante are the focal point of the franchise’s conclusion, Hobbs returning to take down Aimes would avoid overshadowing the main story while still giving him an interesting role. Having a personal story with one of the villains could allow Hobbs to continue his great quips and one-liners, while also giving him more of an edge. This provides The Rock with the perfect reason to implement some of his heel traits while still portraying a morally good hero.

2:34 Image 147 Related Predicting The Ending Of All 13 Fast & Furious Characters In Fast 11 The Fast Saga is set to conclude with Fast & Furious 11 – or Fast X 2 – but how will Dom Toretto and his family’s stories come to a definitive end?

Why Fast & Furious Can’t Bring The Rock Back As A Villain
Hobbs Already Appeared As An Antagonist In Fast Five
A custom image featuring Dwayne Johnson as Luke Hobbs in the Fast and Furious movies Custom image by Debanjana Chowdhury

Although The Rock’s villainous tendencies worked well in the WWE, Fast & Furious can’t bring him back as an antagonist. Johnson already played the main villain of Fast Five, as Hobbs was originally an enemy of Dom and his crew before becoming an ally. Hobbs’ role in Fast Five was one of his best, but despite being the main antagonist, he always had a level of integrity. Dropping all of this to make him a villain in the final movie would be completely unnecessary, especially as the franchise needs him to remain a hero for his spinoff.

Fast & Furious 11 may end the main story, but The Rock will be part of the franchise beyond this, and altering his character so drastically wouldn’t make any sense. Instead, adding some extra edge to his character would have the same effect and would avoid stealing the thunder from Dante and Aimes. Although Fast & Furious 11 shouldn’t make him a villain, the film can still allow Hobbs to play dirty and pull some cheap tricks in order to show a grittier side, while letting him taunt his enemies when he inevitably helps save the day.

Fast & Furious 11
is scheduled to be released in theaters on April 4, 2025.

Fast and Furious 11 temp poster Fast and Furious 11 Fast and Furious 11 is the final movie in the Fast Saga. It reunites Vin Diesel’s Dominic Toretto with the rest of the cast for one last ride. However, the franchise is open for spinoff films like Hobbs & Shaw afterward.Director Louis Leterrier Release Date April 4, 2025 Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers Christina Hodson , Oren Uziel

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