Ja Rule, one of the original Fast & Furious stars, reveals his brutally honest thoughts on not returning to the franchise. The film series began back in 2001 with the release of The Fast and the Furious, which introduced Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew, along with the world of illegal street racing. Ja Rule portrayed Edwin, a driver who went up against Dom and Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) early in the movie. Despite its success, the rapper reportedly turned down the opportunity to come back, and Ja Rule has not appeared in any Fast & Furious installment since.
In a recent interview with Insider, Ja Rule explained his decision to exit the franchise and revealed that he has no regrets. The artist went on to say that he could make more money touring and added that ten films were not something anyone expected.
“I don’t at all. Everybody has become the Monday morning quarterback: ‘He missed out on doing 10 ‘Fast & Furious’ movies. That’s okay. I’m fine with that. I’m Ja Rule, the amazing artist that has had an amazing career, an amazing songwriter. That’s who I am. That’s who people see me as. That’s who I want to be revered as. I was probably the biggest artist in the rap game. I’ll propose this to you: I’m John Singleton. I’m gonna offer you $500,000 to shoot a movie for three months. Or I’m going on a tour and I’m gonna make close to $15 million in the span of less than two months. Well, what you doing? Who knew that there was going to be 10 of them? But even still, I would’ve had to do 10 movies to make that kind of money, or at least eight.“
What Ja Rule’s Exit Meant For Fast & Furious
Ja Rule has had an accomplished career as a rapper, with his third album, Pain Is Love, released months after The Fast and the Furious, earning him a Grammy nomination and the number-one spot on the Billboard 200 chart. John Singleton, director of 2 Fast 2 Furious, claimed that as Ja Rule’s fame grew, he was less interested in returning. Since he departed from the franchise, the artist looked to continue acting in projects including Assault on Precinct 13 and Don’t Fade Away.
With characters throughout the series making returns at different points, it’s worth wondering what Ja Rule’s role would have looked like, had he come back. After the premiere of the original movie, Fast & Furious gained a lot of popularity as well, grossing billions at the box office. However, Ja Rule’s rising stardom towards the beginning of the franchise made sense for him to continue focusing on his rap career.
Though he might have had to make several entries, as noted, it is interesting to think about the part Ja Rule could have played following The Fast and the Furious. With the reception of past installments, and with more films on the way, the franchise seems to keep growing. Its longevity may have been unanticipated at the time, but now Fast & Furious is one of the most successful series ever.
Source: Insider