Summary
Alan Ritchson’s role needs to change inFast X: Part 2after his bland debut inFast X, and one 2024 action movie provides a blueprint for his character’s new direction. Alan Ritchson has evolved into one of the most recognizable faces in action thanks to his breakout role as Jack Reacher in the Amazon Prime showReacher, which is based on the series of novels by Lee Child. Therefore, it made sense that he would be the latest action star to step intothe world ofThe Fast and the Furious, which he did as Aimes inFast X.
WithFast X: Part 2, orFast 11, already in production, Ritchson’s character Aimes will need to answer for his traitorous turn at the end ofFast X. That leaves the franchise with a unique opportunity to make a major change to the character, who was depicted as the leader of the shadowy Agency organization before he was revealed to be a double agent working with Dante Reyes. It would be in the best interest of the character–and the franchise in general–if the plan for Aimes inFast 11takes some cues from another Alan Ritchson action movie.
Fast & Furious 11 Will Break 20-Year-Old Franchise Tradition That Defined The Fast Saga
Fast and Furious 11 will likely break a long-running trend that’s made the franchise so successful until now, but it’s for good reason.
Alan Ritchson Is A Standout In The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare After Bland Fast & Furious Debut
His gleefully violent Anders Lassen was a fan favorite
Through no fault of Ritchson’s, the character of Aimes sort of fell flat inFast X, as he was another in a long line of interchangeable franchise villains. A super-smart, well-connected expert in hand-to-hand combat and manipulation can be used to describe Luke Evans' Owen Shaw, Jason Statham’s Deckard Shaw, or Idris Elba’s Brixton Lore, all of whom faced off against Dom Toretto and his crew in pastFastmovies. While a character like that might have worked for a different movie,in a franchise that’s now 11 films deep, Aimes felt like a retread.
Aimes' vendetta against Dom Toretto and his crew stems from the vault stealing and death of Hernan Reyes at the end ofFast Five.
Aimes also felt like a huge waste of Alan Ritchson’s potential. Guy Ritchie’sThe Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfarefeatured Ritchson in a supporting role asAnders Lassen, a Nazi-hating real-world British commandofrom World War II. In the movie, Ritchson’s Lassen took great joy in exacting over-the-top violence upon the enemies he encountered, and Ritchson played him with an almost giddy disposition as he dismembered Nazis. In addition to being the most action-centered star,Ritchson was genuinely funny in the role. In comparison, his role as Aimes inFast Xfeels downright dull and unoriginal.
Fast & Furious 11 Needs To Give Alan Ritchson A Bigger & Better Role
Fast 11is in a unique position given where the overarching series narrative stands. At the end ofFast X, Aimes had just revealed himself to be the long-time ally of Dante Reyes, and seemingly murdered several members of Dom Toretto’s extended “family.” Given the massive heel turn,it’s easy to write off Aimes' bland disposition as a part of his cover as a double agent, and he can completely shift his personality moving forward now that he’s acting as himself.
Alan Ritchson was actually a contestant on Season 3 ofAmerican Idol; he advanced to the Hollywood round, but did not make it into the final 32 contestants that season.
Whether they commit to a personality change or not,Fast X: Part 2needs to carve out a better role for Ritchson’s Aimes. In lieu of being another big, strong, generic action movie villain, the franchise needs to lean into Aimes' shocking (likely attempted) murders and expand upon him as a legitimate “final boss”-level villain. As it stands,he’s little more than a toady to Jason Momoa’s sociopathic Dante Reyes, and that is a tremendous waste of Ritchson’s potential as an actor, as proven byThe Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.
Fast X: Part 2
Cast
Fast X: Part 2 continues the high-octane saga as the eleventh installment in The Fast Saga, directly following the events of Fast X. The film reunites the ensemble cast as they face new challenges and adversaries on their globe-trotting adventures in the pursuit of justice and survival.
