Olyphant was offered a starring role for a character called Dominic Toretto in another car film called "Redline" – that would later be retitled "The Fast and the Furious". According to Sony producer Neal H. Moritz, "The studio said, 'If you can get Timothy Olyphant to play that role we will greenlight the movie.'" Olyphant declined the role, which went to Vin Diesel. The film went on to be a massive success with seven sequels to date. Olyphant later discussed passing on a lot of roles earlier in his career. In 2011, when asked by "The Hollywood Reporter" what was the most absurd project he had ever been pitched, he replied, "I've passed on absurd projects and they have become enormous, enormous hits spawning numerous sequels, and I'm not in them." In 2018, he reflected on passing on the role of Toretto in "The Fast and the Furious", thinking it would be "stupid" and would bomb at the box office.