The Fast and Furious series is well-known for its action-packed car scenes and intense fights. Creating these scenes requires the expertise of a team of stunt performers, but accidents can happen. The production company responsible for F9: The Fast Saga has been fined around $1 million (800,000 pounds) following a severe injury during the film’s production.

In July 2019, while filming in Leavesden, England, stuntman Joe Watts sustained a skull fracture and brain damage after falling 26 feet (8 meters) onto concrete. The accident occurred when Watts’ safety line detached during a scene where he was thrown off a balcony and missed the crash mat.

Although the stunt was successful during the first take, the line detached during the second take, and it was discovered that no one had checked the safety cable between the attempts. The court case concluded that there was no system in place to verify that the connection was properly secured and tightened. Additionally, it was found that the production failed to extend the necessary crash matting to reduce the impact of an accidental fall after changes were made to the set and the sequence of the stunt.

The judge presiding over the case emphasized that Watts was “fortunate to be alive.”

F9 generated $726,229,501 in worldwide box office revenue, as reported by Box Office Mojo. This means that the fine for Watts’ injury amounts to approximately 0.14 percent of the film’s total earnings.

The next installment in the franchise, Fast X, is expected to be released on April 4, 2025. It concluded with a cliffhanger, leaving the fates of some characters uncertain and promising the return of major protagonists from previous films. There are also potential plans for more movies in the franchise in the future.