For those deeply invested in the Fast & Furious saga, it’s clear the franchise revolves around one core theme: family. At the heart of it all is Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), whose definition of family extends far beyond just blood relations, yet his actual relatives play a crucial role in shaping his life.
Since Fast Five, Dom has built a team, a family of choice, including Tej Parker (Chris “Ludacris” Bridges), Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson), Han Lue (Sung Kang), and Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel). These are the individuals he trusts with his life, his partners in crime and adventure. However, Dom’s story is also deeply rooted in his biological family, a complex web of relationships that have molded him into the street-smart, yet honorable leader we see in Fast X.
While the found family of the Fast & Furious is well-known, the Toretto family bloodline, as hinted at in F9, can be a bit complicated. To clarify things, let’s focus on Dominic’s family by blood and marriage, setting aside the extended, metaphorical family for now.
Abuelita Toretto (Rita Moreno)
Rita Moreno, a celebrated Oscar winner, joined the Fast X cast as Dominic’s Abuelita. Introduced at a family BBQ, she is revealed to be Jack Toretto’s mother, Dom’s paternal grandmother. While her screen time in Fast X offers glimpses rather than deep dives, it’s evident that Abuelita is a pillar of the Toretto family. She’s a fantastic cook, immensely proud of Dom, and clearly the source of his powerful, family-centric speeches. Abuelita represents the matriarchal strength and culinary heart of the Toretto lineage.
Jack Toretto (JD Pardo)
The identity of Dominic Toretto’s mother remains a mystery within the franchise, rarely, if ever, mentioned. In contrast, Jack Toretto, Dom’s father, casts a long shadow over the entire Toretto family narrative.
Jack Toretto was a devoted father to three children and a respected figure in the stock car racing community. He brought Dominic and Jakob into his world, making them part of his pit crew. This experience instilled in Dominic his deep understanding of cars and the principles of respect and hard work. Tragedy struck in 1989 when financial difficulties burdened the Toretto family. In a desperate attempt to shield young Dom from this hardship, Jack coerced his other son, Jakob, into sabotaging his car for an upcoming race. The plan was for Jack to lose intentionally; however, fate intervened tragically when another racer’s vehicle clipped Jack’s car, sending it crashing into a wall at 120 mph, resulting in his immediate death. This pivotal moment thrust Dominic into the role of the Toretto family patriarch far sooner than he should have.
Jakob Toretto (John Cena)
Following their father’s fatal racing accident, Dominic’s grief and rage led him to assault the driver he held responsible, landing him in prison. It was during this time that Dominic uncovered Jakob’s involvement in tampering with their father’s car, though the motive remained unclear. Jakob, bound by a promise to their father to keep the truth about the fixed race hidden from Dom, remained silent. Upon his release, Dom confronted Jakob in a race where the stakes were high: the loser had to leave Los Angeles and never return. Jakob lost, vanishing from Dom’s life until the events of F9. It was revealed that Jakob, during his exile, had been recruited by Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell) to become a spy.
However, Jakob’s past actions and hidden agenda led him down a treacherous path, causing him to betray Mr. Nobody. Driven perhaps by a complex mix of ambition and a hidden desire for his brother’s acceptance, Jakob became a formidable antagonist. In F9, Dominic and Jakob finally faced off. Despite their equal combat skills, Dom’s strength lay in his family, while Jakob found himself betrayed by his own allies. During this intense confrontation, Jakob finally confessed the truth about their father’s death, leading to a long-awaited reconciliation between the Toretto brothers.
Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster)
Throughout Dominic’s tumultuous life and high-stakes exploits, his younger sister, Mia Toretto, has remained a constant presence. Even in the early days, when Dom and his crew were causing trouble, Mia was a grounding force. After Jakob’s departure, she stayed in Los Angeles, managing the family’s sandwich shop while Dom and his friends navigated a world of street racing and illicit activities.
When law enforcement pursued Dom and his crew after the events of The Fast and the Furious, Mia remained in the United States, possibly unknowingly serving as leverage for the FBI to apprehend Dominic. When Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez), Mia’s childhood friend and Dom’s love interest, was seemingly killed by the Braga Cartel, Mia re-entered Dom’s life, alongside Brian O’Connor (Paul Walker), her former flame. After Dom and Brian put aside their initial rivalry and took down Braga, Mia and Brian rekindled their romance. Together, they helped Dominic escape police custody, embarking on a life on the run as a family unit.
Mia became an integral part of Dom’s heisting family through Fast Five, Fast & Furious 6, and Furious 7. Following these adventures, Mia and Brian opted for a quieter life to raise their son, Jack, Dominic’s nephew. However, the shadow of the past resurfaced when Jakob returned in F9, drawing Mia back into the high-octane world she had temporarily left behind.
Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez)
Dominic and Letty’s romantic history stretches back to their childhood. Following Brian’s undercover operation in the first film, Letty joined Dom in the Dominican Republic, working with his new crew, Los Bandoleros. When their situation became too dangerous, Dom and Letty separated temporarily. During this period, Letty collaborated with Brian and the FBI, attempting to help Dom evade capture. Tragically, during a mission involving the Braga Cartel, Letty was presumed dead after a car accident. However, it was later revealed that Gisele Yashar (Gal Gadot) had rescued her, but Letty suffered from amnesia as a result of her injuries.
Lost and without her memories, Letty’s exceptional driving skills led her to Owen Shaw’s crew. She became a key player in his international operations, unknowingly placing herself on a collision course with Dominic. Eventually, Letty rejoined Dom’s side, despite her memory loss. Dom was committed to helping her recover her past. Ultimately, Letty regained her memories, including the recollection of their marriage in the Dominican Republic, solidifying her place as Dominic Toretto’s wife.
Brian Marcos AKA “Little B” (Leo Abelo Perry)
Here’s where the Toretto family tree gets a bit more intricate. During the events of Fast Five, Dom, believing Letty to be deceased, developed a relationship with Elena Neves (Elsa Pataky), a Brazilian police officer. Elena assisted Dom’s team in dismantling Reyes’ criminal empire, seeking justice for her family’s suffering. After the Rio heist, Dom and Elena spent time together in hiding, during which they conceived a child.
Unaware of Elena’s pregnancy, Dom left to rescue Letty. The truth about his son remained hidden until Cipher (Charlize Theron) kidnapped Elena and her child. In a cruel twist, Cipher tragically executed Elena in Dom’s presence. After escaping Cipher’s grasp, Dom and Letty adopted Little Brian, raising him as their son. While Brian Marcos is Dom’s biological son, Letty serves as his stepmother. They lived in secrecy outside of London until the events of F9 allowed them to return to Los Angeles, bringing the newest generation of the Toretto family home.
To delve deeper into the Toretto family saga and the entire franchise, you can stream the Fast & Furious movies on Peacock.
Fast X is currently showing in theaters. Purchase your tickets here!
