“The Quick and the Livid” debuted in the USA on June 22, 2001. I used to be 17 years outdated on the time, just some months away from my freshman 12 months in faculty. I used to be additionally obsessive about quick automobiles, so I used to be very excited for this film. I do not suppose I noticed it on opening weekend, perhaps the weekend after. Both approach, I very clearly bear in mind driving residence from the theater, pumping my fists within the passenger seat of my pal’s Volvo whereas we raced our different pal, who was driving a Jetta. Like many suburban 17-year-olds, inside hours of watching the film, I discovered myself googling “nitrous oxide automotive package” with the hope that I could be allowed to outfit the household Toyota Camry with NOS.
Anyway, the sudden success and recognition of “The Quick and the Livid” was life-changing for the movie’s younger stars Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, and Jordana Brewster. Careers had been launched. Fortunes had been made. The late nice Paul Walker went on to earn $39 million in wage from the primary six installments of the franchise. It is unclear how a lot his property earned from the seventh. Assuming it was one other $15 million, that will carry Walker’s whole Livid paycheck as much as $54 million.
Because it seems, the Livid franchise additionally ought to have been life-changing for Ja Rule, who had a short however memorable cameo within the first installment. That is not what ended up taking place. Sadly for Mr. Rule, a bloated ego triggered him to blow a huge alternative…
Quick Origins
Contemplating how massively profitable the Quick and Livid franchise is as we speak, it could be onerous to think about a time when the very first installment was thought of a mid-level B film. However that is precisely what it was. The movie’s studio, Common Footage, had very low expectations for this $38 million budgeted automotive flick. So you possibly can think about their astonishment when FF1 went on to earn $40 million in its opening weekend alone and $206 million worldwide in whole gross. It most likely took 5 milliseconds for the executives at Common to scream the phrase “SEQUEL!!!!”
Surprisingly, that sequel was not precisely a no brainer for everybody. One of many largest early issues was that Vin Diesel reportedly demanded $30 million to reprise his function as Dominic Toretto. Subsequent, Rob Cohen, the primary film’s director, dropped out as a result of he didn’t like the brand new script.
To make up for Vin Diesel’s absence, Paul Walker’s character of Brian O’Conner could be paired up with two cohorts:
- A never-before-seen childhood pal named Roman Pearse, to be performed by actor/singer/mannequin Tyrese Gibson.
- “Edwin,” the shit-talking Los Angeles road racer from the primary film, as performed by Ja Rule.
Jason Kempin/Getty Photos
Blown Fortune
In case you’ll recall, the super-cocky Edwin was totally humiliated in FF1. Not solely did Edwin lose a serious drag race and the pink slip to his automotive, however ending lifeless final price him the prospect to have a promised threesome with a hottie named Monica. Brutal!
However there was excellent news on the horizon for Edwin. In the deliberate model of “2 Quick 2 Livid,” which was now being helmed by “Boyz n the Hood” director John Singleton, Edwin would have a drastically expanded function that turned him from chump to hero. The half could be a top-billed starring function for Ja Rule.
The expanded function would additionally come with a massively expanded paycheck. After incomes simply $15,000 for FF1, Ja Rule would earn $500,000 for 2F2F. Moreover, as one of many stars, Ja could be locked in to look in all future Livid sequels with an ever-expanding paycheck. Slam dunk for Ja, proper? Fallacious. So what occurred?
On the time, Ja Rule’s profession was on fireplace. His 1999 debut album offered 3.6 million copies. His 2000 sophomore album offered 7.4 million copies. His 2001 third album offered 9.6 million copies. His music label, Homicide Inc., was minting cash and churning out hit after hit.
The late director, John Singleton, defined the state of affairs in a 2015 interview with Grantland.com:
“Ja received too massive for himself. He turned it down. He turned down a half one million {dollars}. He received 15 grand to be within the first film. He was actually massive at the moment. I suppose Homicide Inc. was throwing out hits and had been getting cash hand over foot. He was performing like he was too massive to be within the sequel. He would not return calls. I went to the studio to go see him — that is simply my mantra, I take care of lots of music folks. He was kinda taking part in me to the facet and I used to be like, ‘What? What is that this shit?’ This was all initiated by me. I then made a name. I known as Ludacris.”
How’d This Flip Out For Ludacris?
After serving to 2 Quick 2 Livid earn $236 million on the field workplace, Ludacris rapidly turned an integral a part of the Livid franchise. He has appeared in each sequel since, a complete of seven “Quick & Livid” movies. In whole, the Livid films have earned a cumulative $7 billion on the world field workplace.
Ludacris earned simply $250,000 to be in 2F2F. He earned $4 million for the following few sequels. At the moment, Ludacris earns $5-8 million each time he seems in a “Livid” film. Ludacris has very doubtless earned at the least $25 million (and counting!) from the franchise. Maybe extra with royalties and bonuses.
How’d This Flip Out For Ja Rule?
Sadly, 2001 turned out to be absolutely the peak of Ja Rule’s profession. Bear in mind how his 2001 album offered 9.6 million copies? His 2002 album offered simply 1.5 million worldwide. His 2003 album offered simply 468,000 copies.
Additionally, beginning in 2003, Ja started to search out himself in a slew of authorized issues. He allegedly punched a man in Toronto and needed to settle the case out of court docket. He was then arrested for driving on a suspended license and possession of marijuana. In 2007, Ja was arrested for gun and drug possession. He ended up receiving a two-year jail sentence for these expenses. In 2011, Ja was sentenced to a further 28 months for tax evasion after he didn’t pay taxes on $3 million price of earnings between 2004 and 2006. By the point he was lastly launched from jail in Might 2013, a lot of Ja’s former fortune and empire was gone. His internet price has been lowered from an all-time excessive of $30 million to round $4 million as we speak. Oh ya, and then there was Fyre Competition, which we cannot go into right here, however did at one level result in a $100 million lawsuit being filed towards Ja and Billy McFarland… You recognize the story.
So what is the lesson right here?
First off, do not get arrested and go to jail for silly issues like gun and drug possession. However, extra importantly, if somebody ever provides you the prospect to be a part of an enormous hit franchise like Quick and Livid… don’t flip them down!!!
