If a fan had asked the Fast & Furious franchise cast about Dwayne Johnson a year ago, the tension could have cleaved the air in two. But like a leopard that never changes its spot, The Rock returns to helm one of the most explosive action movies on the planet with enough conviction to make us doubt whether a feud ever existed in the first place.
Dwayne Johnson as Luke Hobbs in The Fate of the Furious [Credit: Universal Pictures]
Dwayne Johnson’s return to the Fast & Furious franchise also comes at a most opportune time as the actor slowly makes a comeback in the public sphere after the Maui controversy in October 2023. His regret and apology – “I could have been better” – was merely one of the many amends he made toward his fans as the people-pleasing, audience-respecting entertainer now returns like a phoenix rising from the ashes to bring back some explosion into the theaters.
Dwayne Johnson Makes a Timely Comeback
Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham in Hobbs & Shaw [Credit: Universal Pictures]
The Fast & Furious franchise was never the crème de la crème of the film industry. The adrenaline-packed action-thriller movies never promised to fulfill the artistic sensibilities of RADA-coded actors or presented themselves as tastefully curated films aimed to please fans and critics alike. This fast-paced, family-driven franchise delivers exactly what it says on the title card and nothing more.
When Dwayne Johnson stepped in as Hobbs the Bulldozer in Fast Five, it was an upgrade for the actor considering his previous stints involved a tooth fairy and a terrible CGI rundown as half-man, half-scorpion. In 2011, his introduction as the antagonist Luke Hobbs garnered major traction among fans and the film became his most commercially successful Fast & Furious flick.
As the popularity of the franchise grew with time, the franchise itself spread its wings, producing an offshoot branch led by Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham as bickering frenemies, Hobbs and Shaw. The 2019 buddy action comedy failed to wow the critics but Johnson gave the fans exactly what they wanted – 140 minutes of mindless action, laughter, a forgettable plot, and some eye-pleasing cinematography from an A-list cast roster.
Related Hobbs & Shaw May Have Accidentally Revealed How John Cena’s Jakob Returns from the Dead in Fast 11
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw closed on a high note, with fans rating it 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and the studio cashing in $760.7 million in global sales (via The Numbers). After 5 years in limbo, Dwayne Johnson has now returned for more.
Hobbs & Shaw 2 Receives a Hopeful Update
Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham in Hobbs & Shaw [Credit: Universal Pictures]
For a franchise that has languished in self-induced misery for years and become a meme to its own devoted fanbase, a bright future was not in its cards anytime soon. Vin Diesel’s very public fallout with Dwayne Johnson, Tyrese Gibson’s rant against colorism that exists in the industry, Paul Walker calling the franchise “stale” before his untimely death in 2017, and Michelle Rodriguez’s dramatic objection to her character’s portrayal in the films – the controversies have been never-ending for the Fast & Furious family.
But with time and patience, the family has risen above it all. Broken relationships have been mended and agreements were reached as actors like Dwayne Johnson now return to reprise their roles in the mega-hit franchise. As for the fans, the reactions have been euphoric knowing that there will be more shenanigans to follow in the wake of the unlikely pairing of Jason Statham’s Deckard Shaw with Dwayne Johnson’s Luke Hobbs.
Related “Let’s put that on hold”: A Tragic Event Pushed Dwayne Johnson’s Hobbs & Shaw Spinoff To The Edge
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Hobbs & Shaw writer Chris Morgan had this to say about the long-awaited sequel:
While it sounds like it’s too early to be trying to pinpoint any kind of official release date for a potential Hobbs and Shaw 2, it’s undeniably exciting to know that the film is at least still in development, especially knowing that the main Fast & Furious franchise will end with the next installment.
Despite the hint of ambiguity in his response, fans can be assured of Dwayne Johnson’s return, given his surprise appearance in the Fast X post-credits scene. Even after repeatedly refusing to reprise his role due to his fallout with Vin Diesel, Johnson made sure to put the fans first once more and honored his role within the franchise enough to see it through to the end.
Meanwhile, Fast XI – the eleventh and final installment of the Fast & Furious series – has been inching closer to its release date. Set to be directed by Louis Leterrier, the final film will mark the end of an era for the industry that has stood witness to the rise of the famed movie series since 2001.
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw is streaming on Peacock.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
