TheNeed for Speedmovie wasAaron Paul’s first major project after the conclusion of the critically acclaimedBreaking Bad. While Paul’scharacter onBreaking Bad, Jesse, was originally supposed to be killed off in the first season, plans were changed, and he was ultimately destined to star in all five seasons of the hit show. However, it doesn’t seem like Paul was destined to star in moreNeed for Speedfilms, as a sequel to the racing movie has not been made.
Need for Speedwas released in 2014 and performed well at the box office, especially in China. While the film only has a 23% on Rotten Tomatoes, the cast ofNeed for Speed, which includes the likes of Paul, Rami Malek, Dakota Johnson, and Michael Keaton, made it an entertaining movie. However, whileNeed for Speed 2was officially announced in 2015, just one year after the first film, it never materialized, and now it doesn’t seem like it will ever be made.
Need For Speed Was Aaron Paul’s First Big Project After Breaking Bad
Need For Speed Could Have Turned Aaron Paul Into A Movie Star
InBreaking Bad, Paul played Jesse Pinkman, a drug dealer who ended up partnering with Walter White to make and sell meth. The series ran from 2008-2013, with Paul appearing as a major character inall five seasons ofBreaking Bad. The show received outstanding reviews, with many suggesting it is the best show of all time. However, when actors are so well-known for a role on a show, they can sometimes get stuck in that bubble and struggle to make an impact in any other projects.
Therefore, whenPaul starred as the main character inNeed for Speedjust one year after the finale ofBreaking Bad, it was a major step forward in his career.Need for Speedcould have been a major hit, and turned Paul into a major movie star right after the success ofBreaking Bad. However, while the racing movie didn’t perform badly at the box office,Need for Speeddid not resonate with audiences, and remains an underwhelming project in Paul’s filmography.
Need For Speed Did Fine At The Box Office (But Never Got A Sequel)
Need For Speed 2 Would Have Filmed In China
Upon its release,Need for Speeddid not receive the strongest reviews, but it was not a box office bomb by any means.Need for Speedmade $203 million on a budget of $66 million. However,Need for Speedmade the bulk of its money from international markets, especially China. While the film only made $43 million at the domestic box office, it was a massive hit in China. Therefore, whileNeed for Speedwas profitable, its underwhelming domestic haul likely worried the studio about moving forward with the sequel.
Progress stalled onNeed for Speed 2and barely anything has been heard about the sequel since.
Regardless, a sequel was announced in 2015, andNeed for Speed 2was going to be a co-production between EA and the China Movie Channel Program Center.There were hopes thatNeed for Speedcould become a major international series, and the sequel was going to shoot primarily in China. This makes sense given the first film’s success at the Chinese box office. However, progress stalled onNeed for Speed 2and barely anything has been heard about the sequel since.
Need For Speed Could Have Been A Major Racing Movie Franchise, Like Fast & Furious
Even though the firstNeed for Speedfilm did not receive the best reviews, its success at the international box office warranted a sequel. Additionally, several other attributes of the film suggest thatNeed for Speedcould have become a major franchise. Stars likeAaron Paul, Malek, Johnson, and Keaton assured thatNeed for Speedhad a strong cast, andthe series could have sought out even more recognizable names for future installations.
Furthermore,the film was also based on the successfulNeed for Speedvideo game series, so it had a well-known IP that would ensure it remained relevant. Since it was a racing film, it also had manysimilarities to theFast & Furiousmovies, which were making a lot of money at the box office at the time (2015’sFurious 7made over $1.5 billion). Therefore, all the ingredients were there forNeed for Speedto turn into a successful franchise, but it just didn’t end up working out.
Need For Speed
Cast
Need for Speed, directed by Scott Waugh, follows a street racer framed by an associate and imprisoned. Upon release, he enters a high-stakes race from New York to Los Angeles seeking revenge, while his former partner places a bounty on him, triggering a dangerous cross-country pursuit.
