John Cena said it was 'incredible' to recreate an iconic moment from the first 'Fast and the Furious' movie in 'Fast 9'
- Warning: There are spoilers ahead for "Fast 9."
- John Cena and Vin Diesel recreate a moment between Brian and Dom from "The Fast and the Furious."
- Cena tells Insider it was "incredible" to honor that moment 20 years after the first film.
"Fast" fans may get a little misty-eyed near the end of "F9."
After helping Dom (Vin Diesel) and his group save the world from Otto and Cipher, Jakob Toretto (John Cena) has a heart-to-heart with his big brother.
In one of the film's most emotional moments, Dom gives Jakob the keys to a car to ride off into the sunset and escape from anyone who still may be searching for him.
Dom tells Jakob, "Someone once gave me a 10-second car as a second chance. I owe it to you, little brother."
Though Dom doesn't name that "someone," diehard fans will know he's referencing Paul Walker's character Brian O'Conner and the time Brian let Dom evade the police in his 10-second car at the end of 2001's "The Fast and the Furious."
The moment solidified the outlaw (Dom) and the then-FBI agent (Brian) as spiritual brothers.
In "F9," the Dom and Jakob moment starts to repair some of the damage that's created a chasm in the Toretto family for years.
When asked what it was like on set filming the emotional throwback, Cena told Insider, "That was incredible."
"To be invited in this, to be my first experience with the 'Fast' Family and to be given such an important and pivotal role, but to also recreate such an iconic moment, it was... I have goosebumps," he continued. "It was very, very special."
'F9' has a second tribute to Brian O'Conner at the end
The scene is one of two ways the film pays tribute to Walker, who died at the age of 40 in 2013 after he was involved in a single-car accident.
In the second tribute, not long after Jakob departs, Dom and the group (sans Jakob) are gathered around a table to eat at the film's end. A blue Nissan Skyliner - Brian's car of choice - is seen racing up to the house to close out "F9," implying Brian is about to join the group for the meal.
The moment was teased in the trailers.
Director Justin Lin told Insider he "constantly" considers how to honor Walker in the franchise, discussing it with Diesel.
"Especially on nine, it was something I kept making sure I'm double checking, triple checking," Lin said. "Every day, up until we finally lock and deliver the movie, I was still having that conversation to make sure that, at the end of the day, I have to be OK with the fact that whatever process I went to, I'm doing it in the most respectful way."
As the main saga heads into its final two films, Lin said he's still considering how to best honor Walker's character.
"As we're moving into closing the saga, obviously there's a lot of different options," Lin said of how the next two sequels can respectfully address O'Conner.
"It's a constant discourse, I would say," he continued. "I hope that, whatever we choose, it continues to be done with the kind of thoughtfulness and respect that I hope to bring."