16 'Fast and the Furious' stars who have also been in DC and Marvel movies

The car racing franchise includes several films and a spin-off, but years ago, Diesel helped save the "Fast and Furious" movies from going straight to video. With Diesel producing and starring in the films, "Fast and Furious" has become a globe-trotting box office success that's drastically evolved since the days of Dom and his crew stealing DVD players.

The actor made his MCU debut as the voice of Groot in 2014's "Guardians of the Galaxy." The lovable creature is a fan-favorite for audiences and Diesel himself, who channeled Groot at the premieres of "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame."

Diesel will return as Groot in James Gunn's "Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special" and "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3."

It's been the summer of Cena.

After meeting up with Vin Diesel, Cena was cast as Dom's long-lost estranged little brother in "Fast 9." Cena told Insider he'd love to return to the franchise to play the character again.

Recently, he appeared in James Gunn's "The Suicide Squad" as Peacemaker, a skilled marksman who claims he'll do anything to keep the peace, even if it's questionable.

Cena will reprise the role in next year's HBO Max original series "Peacemaker."

After a near-fatal injury, Brixton's body was recovered and modified, therefore turning him into a deadly super-soldier.

Elba's first foray into playing comic-book characters was the 2010 movie "The Losers," which was based on a comic from DC imprint Vertigo. He played Roque in the star-studded movie that included future MCU actors Chris Evans and Zoe Saldana.

The following year, he made his debut as Heimdall in "Thor." Elba would go on to play the heroic Marvel character in the "Thor" sequels and two "Avengers" films.

He also portrayed a mercenary named Moreau in 2011's "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance."

Now, Elba stars as a master marksman and leader named Bloodsport/Robert DuBois in "The Suicide Squad."

Rooker's Yondu was the leader of a group known as the Ravagers. He also acted as a father figure to Peter Quill (Chris Pratt).

In "F9," Rooker played a mechanic named Buddy. He took care of Jakob after the death of his father, Jack Toretto (JD Pardo).

Director James Gunn enlisted his buddy, Rooker, to became a part of the DCEU as Task Force X recruit Savant in "The Suicide Squad."

Gadot starred as Gisele Yashar in three "Fast and Furious" films. Her character was killed off in "Fast and Furious 6," but considering how the franchise brought back Han Seoul-Oh (Sung Kang) after he was believed to be dead, anything is possible.

A few years after exiting the "Fast and Furious" franchise, Gadot made her debut as Wonder Woman in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." She reprised the role for two standalone movies about the Amazonian, plus "Justice League" and "Zack Snyder's Justice League."

Russell didn't join the "Fast and Furious" franchise until the seventh movie, but "F9" revealed that his character has been working in the shadows a lot longer than anyone realized.

In the 2017 "Guardians of the Galaxy" sequel, Peter Quill learned that Ego is his biological father.

He joined the franchise as an agent of the Diplomatic Security Service in "Fast Five" and appeared in three more sequels. A follow-up to "Hobbs and Shaw" is in the works, but don't expect it to come out any time soon.

Johnson has been developing "Black Adam" for years. The film, set for release in summer 2022, will also star Pierce Brosnan and "To All the Boys" breakout actor Noah Centineo.

In "Hobbs and Shaw," Reynolds played an old friend of Luke Hobbs (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson). Director David Leitch told SYFY WIRE that Reynolds appeared in the movie "as a favor," but he'd like the actor to return in more potential installments of "Hobbs and Shaw."

Reynolds had a minor role as Wade Wilson/Deadpool in 2009's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." It would take seven years before the actor would play the anti-hero again in a larger capacity. Reynolds starred in "Deadpool" and its 2018 sequel. There's a third movie in the works, too.

Reynolds also portrayed Hal Jordan/Green Lantern in the critically panned 2011 standalone movie about the DC comics character. On the bright side, the film introduced him to now-wife Blake Lively.

Monica had a short-lived romance with Brian O'Conner. She briefly returned as a colleague of Luke Hobbs at the Diplomatic Security Service in the end-credits scene of "Fast Five."

In the Marvel movie "Ghost Rider," Mendes starred as the love interest to Nicolas Cage's Johnny Blaze.

Roman went to space with Tej (Ludacris) in "F9," and somehow they both survived the mission.

In "Morbius," Gibson's character named Simon Stroud will be tracking down the titular vampire (played by Jared Leto) for the FBI.

"It's my first time ever officially being a superhero," Gibson told Maxim. "I've done some superhero s---, but I ain't never been a superhero. I had to explain this to my daughter."

First, he played a nightclub owner named Midnite in the DC movie "Constantine." Hounsou went on to portray Kree operative Korath in "Guardians of the Galaxy" and the '90s-set film "Captain Marvel."

He also starred as two other DC characters: King Ricou in "Aquaman" and the Wizard in "Shazam."

In "Furious 7," Hounsou played a terrorist named Mose Jakande who attempted to steal Ramsey's (Nathalie Emmanuel) powerful surveillance system known as God's Eye.

Eastwood told The Independent that he was a "die-hard fan" since the first "Fast and Furious" movie. He joined the franchise after his close friend, Paul Walker, was killed in 2013.

"Paul was one of my best friends. He was like an older brother to me," Eastwood said on the home release of "The Fate of the Furious," according to Cinemablend. "Why not be part of something he was a part of?"

In "Suicide Squad," Eastwood played a decorated Navy SEAL lieutenant who died a hero during a mission with Task Force X.

Stasiak first showed up in 2009's "Fast and Furious," where he got his nose broken by Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker). His nose got injured again by Brian in "Fast and Furious 6" and the damages were apparent when Stasiak appeared briefly in "F9."

In Todd Phillips' origin story about the infamous DC villain, Whigham played one of two police detectives who went around questioning people in Gotham about gruesome subway murders committed by Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix).

Riley Hicks was first introduced as a member of Hobbs' team, but it was later revealed that she was an informant for Owen.

Similarly, she played an associate of "Deadpool" villain Ajax (Ed Skrein) in the 2016 movie and took pleasure in torturing Wade Wilson.

After playing Dom's childhood friend named Vince in "The Fast and the Furious," Schulze starred in the 2002 "Blade" sequel directed by Guillermo del Toro.

He didn't show up again in the "Fast and Furious" franchise until 2011's "Fast Five," in which his character was killed.

Mirren joined the "Fast and Furious" franchise in 'The Fate of the Furious" as the Shaw matriarch named Magdalene (better known as Queenie). Since then, she's reprised the role for "Hobbs and Shaw" and "F9," where she got behind the wheel of a car with Diesel.

Next, the legendary actress will play the main villain, Atlas' daughter named Hespera, in "Shazam! Fury of the Gods."