It’s hard to imagine anyone but Vin Diesel playing Dominic Toretto in Fast & Furious, but a different star was offered the role before him. As one of the highest-grossing franchises of all time, Diesel’s portrayal of Dom was a major part of this series’ success, as he helped it grow from a humble street racing story into an over-the-top action-packed spectacle.

The Fast & Furious franchise has thrilled audiences for nearly 25 years, with its ensemble cast helping to define its idenтιтy. With Diesel set to portray Dom just one last time in the upcoming eleventh installment in the mainline series, there’s never been a better time to look back on one of the franchise’s biggest what-ifs.

Timothy Olyphant Turned Down The Role Of Dom Toretto

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Timothy Olyphant spoke about being offered the role of Dominic Toretto way back before the first movie was released in 2001. As a performer who is very different from Vin Diesel, this would have had major implications for the franchise’s idenтιтy, although Olyphant says he has no regrets.

As a franchise with combined box office takings of over $7 billion, Olyphant would have earned a huge payday had he accepted the role, yet that would also have put his career on a totally different track. It’s fascinating to imagine how much Olyphant’s unique style might have shifted the character’s idenтιтy and impacted the success of the series.

You famously turned down the blockbuster role in Fast & Furious that eventually went to Vin Diesel. I understand why it might not have been appealing, but do you ever look at the box office returns when those sequels come out and think, “Damn”?

The pitfall here is that it’s very hard to answer that question without feeling like I’m offending somebody. So, if I start saying, “No, it’s never occurred to me,” or “No, I’ve never seen those movies,” it just starts to sound like … ugh, let’s say I didn’t ever say that. I love those movies. I’m thrilled that they worked for everybody involved.

– Timothy Olyphant (via The Hollywood Reporter)

Timothy Olyphant Could Have Been An Ever Better Leading Star Than Vin Diesel

The Fast & Furious franchise is intrinsically linked to Vin Diesel’s role as Dominic Toretto, although Timothy Olyphant potentially could have been an even better leading man. With experience in action heist movies like Gone in 60 Seconds, Olyphant is no stranger to the kind of over-the-top carnage Fast & Furious audiences have come to expect.

Olyphant has also shown his talents as a dramatic actor in acclaimed TV series like ᴅᴇᴀᴅwood, Justified, and Fargo, proving he has the range needed to add emotional depth to the characterization of Dom. These impressive credentials represent a thrilling what-if for the franchise, but it’s impossible to say how things would have panned out with Olyphant at the helm.

The truth is that Diesel was an integral part of Fast & Furious becoming the global phenomenon that it did, and without his involvement, there’s a chance it may never have grown into the cultural juggernaut it is today. Ultimately, Diesel’s involvement isn’t just part of the story; it is an essential aspect of the franchise, and he’s now inseparable from Dom.