Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift Media Day: My Interview With Jon Corfino

I spent September 15 at Universal Studios Hollywood for the Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift media event and opening celebration. I rode the coaster and sat down with Jon Corfino, Vice President of Universal Creative.

It was a really cool event to experience in person. There was so much energy onstage and excitement that Hollywood Drift is finally here.

Universal invited me out for today’s coverage ahead of Hollywood Drift’s public opening on September 16. The red carpet even has drift marks running across it. A fitting welcome for this one.

Watch the full Hollywood Drift opening celebration

The show opened with dancers and built to a countdown and ceremonial chain cutting, with flames and smoke surrounding the stage.

Scott Strobl, Executive Vice President & General Manager of Universal Studios Hollywood, and Mark Woodbury spoke during the celebration. Woodbury is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences.

Woodbury connected the new coaster to the films’ history:

“Fast and Furious has delivered 25 years of high-speed thrills and big blockbuster movie moments.”

“And for fans on the East Coast, don’t worry,” Woodbury added. He pointed to the Fast & Furious coaster planned for Universal Orlando Resort in 2027.

I would’ve loved to see someone from the film cast, though I didn’t personally spot any cast members. I still really enjoyed seeing Strobl, Woodbury and the dancers celebrate onstage. That energy at Universal Studios Hollywood was awesome.

Two front-row rides in the Charger

I rode Hollywood Drift twice at night, both times in the front row of the Charger. Getting to ride at night was a lot of fun.

I never thought I’d see a fast-paced outdoor coaster at Universal Studios Hollywood, so experiencing it was incredible. A coaster like this here once felt almost impossible to me. Now I’ve ridden it, and I think it’s amazing.

Watch my full interview with Jon Corfino

Sat down with Jon Corfino, Vice President of Universal Creative. I brought the questions I thought you guys would most want answered, and one detail stood out: a certain “pink car” almost made it into Hollywood Drift? 👀💗 Thank you to Universal Studios Hollywood for inviting me pic.twitter.com/YJwzi69nSS

Theme Park Shark 🎢🦈 Dustin Sparage (@ThemeParkShark) September 15, 2026

Watch the full interview on X, or watch on Threads.

I brought the questions I thought fellow fans would most want answered: how Universal built a coaster around Hollywood’s hillside, how the team chose the cars, and what it wanted to do differently with a physical Fast & Furious ride.

I’d already ridden before the interview, and I told Jon I was blown away. One of my favorite parts is the ride vehicles themselves. Brian’s blue Nissan Skyline was the car I wanted to see, so I was especially happy that it made the lineup.

The pink-car comment that caught my attention

I asked Jon whether any other cars had come close to making the attraction. He explained that choosing the vehicles was a collaboration with the film group and franchise partners, focused on the most iconic cars.

He said some vehicles had been considered that didn’t make it. Then came this line:

“There’s a pink car in particular that I get asked about.”

That moment, around 2:53 in the interview, was the standout for me. My mind immediately went to Suki. Jon didn’t name her, though, or explicitly confirm that her car was one of the vehicles considered. I’m treating it as a tease, not confirmation of a cut Suki ride vehicle.

He also talked about how closely the finished cars would be examined. Jon traveled to approve the molds and get into the details of the designs, knowing both car fans and theme park fans would be looking closely.

“Every seam, every tail light, everything just has to be as perfect as it can be for a ride vehicle.”

Working with Hollywood’s hillside

When I asked about the challenges of building here, Jon went back roughly 10 years to when the idea first came about. He pointed to the former animal show and special effects stage locations and described the wooded mountainside as a huge logistical challenge.

Rather than simply work around that setting, the team wanted it to become part of the experience. That’s a particularly interesting answer when you’re looking at a coaster that travels over the Starway.

Jon also explained that the goal wasn’t simply to put riders inside a movie. It was to physically put them through something connected to the films’ stunts. That thinking carries into the queue, where recreated props and QR-linked behind-the-scenes information explore how the action was made.

Making Fast & Furious feel physical

I also asked what was at the top of the team’s list when approaching another Fast & Furious attraction, this time as a roller coaster.

Jon’s answer centered on drifting, full rotation and the forces riders feel. He also emphasized what it’s like to sit in something that looks and feels like a car while hearing engine noises and skids.

For anyone planning to visit, Universal lists four Hollywood Drift ride vehicle designs: the Dodge Charger, Mazda RX-7, Nissan Skyline GT-R and Toyota Supra. The coaster reaches speeds of up to 72 mph across 4,100 feet of track. Each car has its own audio and independently programmed rotation, so the vehicle you ride in is part of the experience.

For more on the cars, Universal also has a behind-the-scenes look at their design.

Hollywood Drift opens to the public September 16

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift officially opens to the public at Universal Studios Hollywood on September 16, 2026. Universal’s official August 31, 2026 press release has more about the coaster.

Disclosure: Universal Studios Hollywood invited me to attend the September 15, 2026 media event.

Sources: My interview with Jon Corfino, my full opening-ceremony video and Universal Studios Hollywood. Executive titles: Scott Strobl and Mark Woodbury.