At first glance, the Fast & Furious franchise might seem like the last place you’d expect to find complex, nerdy details. It’s all about fast cars, action-packed scenes, and the word “family” being said a little too often. But if you dig deeper (or take a look “under the hood,” as car enthusiasts like to say), you’ll discover that the Fast & Furious series actually has a timeline as complicated as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The stories are filled with surprising twists, convoluted histories, and an interconnected web of characters that could give any fan a run for their money in keeping track of the details.
A prime example of this is the constantly shifting cast of characters. Over the years, many of them have been killed off only to return later, making it hard to remember who’s alive, who’s dead, and how everyone is connected. Take Gal Gadot’s character, Gisele Yashar. You might have forgotten she was part of the franchise since she left after Fast & Furious 6 in 2013. But, surprise, she’s back in Fast X—but why? And how?
Gisele’s return is a perfect example of the franchise’s timeline confusion. Gisele’s character was killed off to create an emotional storyline for Han, played by Sung Kang. In the Fast & Furious universe, the events of Tokyo Drift (the third movie) actually happen after Fast & Furious 6, even though Tokyo Drift was released earlier. In Tokyo Drift, Han dies, but the movies that come later, starting from Fast & Furious 4 to Fast & Furious 6, serve as a prequel to show us how Han’s character came to be the mysterious figure we meet in Tokyo. In Fast & Furious 6, we learn that Han was deeply affected by Gisele’s death, which pushed him into a darker, isolated life in Tokyo.
Why was Gal Gadot’s Gisele killed off in the Fast & Furious movies?
So, Gisele’s death wasn’t just a random decision—it was all part of Han’s emotional journey. While the Fast & Furious series is definitely not a trailblazer when it comes to showcasing feminism, it’s possible that Gal Gadot herself wanted to leave the franchise to pursue other career opportunities. By the end of 2013, after Fast & Furious 6 came out, Gadot had already been cast as Wonder Woman in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), which launched her into even bigger roles.
Now that the DCEU is on its way out, Gadot is back in the Fast & Furious fold. In Fast X (2023), she made a surprise return in a brief cameo, revealing that her character, Gisele, somehow survived her earlier death. Fans of the Han and Gisele pairing can rest easy, too—Han is back from the dead as well, so it looks like things are coming full circle for the couple.
Looking ahead, Fast XI (2026) is expected to wrap up the entire Fast & Furious saga, bringing back not only Gisele but also Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s character, Luke Hobbs, who last appeared in the Hobbs & Shaw spin-off. Fans of the timeline will remember that this spin-off fits between Fast & Furious 8 and Fast & Furious 9. While Fast XI is being talked about as the final chapter, we’ll have to wait and see if the franchise really wraps up there. In the meantime, Gadot is staying busy, with her role as the Evil Queen in Disney’s upcoming Snow White, set to hit theaters in March 2025.