Dwayne Johnson once declared he would never again return to the Fast & Furious franchise under any circumstances. His issues with former co-star Vin Diesel were not the not-so-secret reason why. But something dramatic happened because The Rock made a surprise return during Fast X‘s mid-credits scene. Now we might know what helped convinced him to drive home: Universal Pictures gave him another spinoff to star in. Dwayne Johnson will return as Luke Hobbs in a Fast & Furious spinoff film that will serve as a bridge in the main series’ final entries.
Johnson announced on Twitter “Hobbs is back,” and he doesn’t just mean for a single scene. According to him in the “next Fast & Furious film you’ll see the legendary lawman in will be the HOBBS movie that will serve as a fresh, new chapter & set up for Fast X: Part II.”
Chris Morgan wrote the script. He penned seven previous entries for the franchise, including its only previous spinoff, Hobbs & Shaw.
How did Johnson go from swearing off the entire franchise to headlining another installment? On Twitter he wrote (in classic Fast & Furious style), “Last summer Vin and I put all the past behind us. We’ll lead with brotherhood and resolve – and always take care of the franchise, characters & FANS that we love.”
Sure that explains it! (No, wait, it’s the money. Actors get paid money.)
This off screen reconciliation doesn’t mean the two will be sharing one on screen just yet, though. Reports say as of now there are no plans for Diesel to appear in the new Hobbs spinoff, which is not a sequel to Hobbs & Shaw. However, other franchise members are expected to join Johnson in the film. And Diesel will serve as a producer on the movie.
It’s also not clear if Dwayne Johnson himself will appear in Fast 11 (or a possible Fast 12) movie after this spinoff adventure. But that doesn’t mean they won’t appear on screen together at some point. Obviously no one should ever say “never” when it comes to this franchise.
