Fast and Furious 9 is setting up a possible Tokyo Drift 2, considering how the new film fully brings the previous spinoff into the main franchise. The upcoming film is bringing back Han (Sung Kang) after he was believed dead for the past two movies, and a number of other characters from Tokyo Drift are set to return as well. At least two more core entries in the Fast franchise have already been confirmed after F9: The Fast Saga, and there’s also potential for more spinoff films in the vein of Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is one of the more unique entries in the franchise. It’s the only core film not to feature Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) or Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker), though the former did cameo at the very end of the movie. It’s also the only entry to take place out of release order – being the third film made, but the sixth film in the canonical timeline. Tokyo Drift also has a more niche focus than the other Fast films, focusing on a distinct corner of car culture in the Japanese drift scene. While Tokyo Drift isn’t the most critically acclaimed movie in the franchise, it’s beloved by many, and it introduced both Han and director Justin Lin to the series.

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A Tokyo Drift 2 always seemed impossible since Han died in the first film, but Fast and Furious 9 could finally be setting it up. Han is back in action in F9, and the trailer footage suggests he’s been hiding out in Tokyo since his supposed death. The new movie is also reuniting the rest of the Tokyo Drift crew, with Sean Boswell (Lucas Black), Earl Hu (Jason Tobin) and Twinkie (Bow Wow) all returning. Assuming they all survive F9, the drift squad could finally be getting a full-on sequel, one that bridges the gap between what happened in Tokyo Drift and F9.

As the two-part climax of the core Fast and Furious story looms on the horizon, the franchise has already started moving toward more spinoff content. Hobbs & Shaw and the animated Netflix series Fast & Furious Spy Racers have kicked off that new direction, and they could be the first of many such projects. And when it comes to side characters with the popularity necessary to lead their own movie or show, Han is at the top of the list.

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Depending on how Han’s return is explained, there could be any number of fun stories Tokyo Drift 2 could tell. Sung Kang has already been the star of a Fast film once, and now that the other Tokyo Drift characters are coming back, he can do it again. Furthermore, there’s a lot to explore regarding if Sean is still the Drift King, what happened to the other Tokyo Drift characters, their relationship with the Yakuza, and where Han has been all this time. Tokyo Drift 2 can dive into all that and be both a prequel and sequel to F9. Hopefully, the old theme song will also come back if Tokyo Drift 2 gets made.

Key Release Dates
  • F9/Fast & Furious 9 (2021)Release date: Jun 25, 2021
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Rick Stevenson
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Rick Stevenson is a writer, editor and performer based in Brooklyn, NY. He’s written on TV, film and games for over six years, in addition to assorted stints in bookselling, carpentry, and TV production. Rick studied writing at the College of William & Mary and Oxford University, and can report with some authority that they are both old. He lives and dies for Avatar: The Last Airbender.

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