Fast X has already premiered, and it has done so with one of the biggest surprises in the franchise: the return of Dwayne Johnson. Despite the fact that the actor of Black Adam was one of the most beloved characters in the franchise, Luke Hobbs, and even starred in the spin-off Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, the performer promised that he would never come back.
However, in the post-credits scene of Fast X, this has changed. After witnessing the return of Gisele Yashar (Gal Gadot) as well, we see a scene entirely dedicated to the former WWE wrestler. And it’s not just any scene:
Luke Hobbs receives a call from Dante, the film’s villain played by Jason Momoa. After dealing (or not) with the Toretto family, Dante threatens Hobbs for his involvement in his father’s death. Thus, it is clear that Luke Hobbs will return to the franchise and, from the looks of it, will have a vital role in the next installment… and perhaps even be the protagonist?
Why did Dwayne Johnson leave Fast & Furious?
Whatever the case may be, it is clear that Dwayne Johnson has reflected on what happened with his involvement in Fast & Furious and has finally decided to return to the franchise. But what exactly happened? Well, we have to go back to Fast & Furious 8, a film in which Johnson participated and where both he and Vin Diesel had a public dispute about their differing views on the saga.
It all started with Fast & Furious 5. Johnson joined the film as a rival to Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), and they had an intense battle before Johnson’s character decided to join the protagonist’s family. In this way, Johnson returned smoothly in the sixth and seventh installments. But something happened in the eighth film. Hobbs ended up having more prominence than Toretto himself, as he had to lead the family while Diesel’s character seemed to have turned to the dark side… but this turn of events didn’t sit well with everyone.
When filming concluded, Johnson publicly addressed on Instagram that he had experienced issues with his male co-stars in the movie. He made it clear that he had clashed with Vin Diesel, who is also a producer of the franchise. Although Johnson later attempted to rectify his statement, the problem had already landed on Diesel’s lap, and what he declared only added fuel to the fire: “Dwayne has only one big brother in the film world, and that’s me.”
While this may have seemed like a lighthearted comment, it didn’t sit well with Johnson. Their egos clashed, and ultimately, Johnson did not participate in Fast & Furious 9, instead favoring his spin-off Hobbs & Shaw, alongside Jason Statham. Johnson made it clear that he would not return to Fast & Furious… but in the end, he has done so.
A return through the back door
And what is the reason for his return? It appears that the failure of his latest big film, Black Adam, is a significant factor. Dwayne Johnson wanted to become a superhero and lead the future of DC, but after the lackluster performance of Black Adam, Warner handed the reins to James Gunn, who does not plan to include his character. This has led Johnson to seek other types of films to continue advancing his career.
In this sense, returning as Hobbs makes perfect sense. It is a recognized character that he has already portrayed multiple times, and the audience demands it. Thus, this change of heart will benefit both the audience, who will get what they wanted with this grand final crossover of the franchise, and Johnson himself, who can continue to explore his character as much as he desires.
Now, we only know that there are two more Fast & Furious films left before its supposed conclusion. Dante’s story has been left unfinished, and Hobbs’ return could be crucial for the protagonist family to confront the major villain played by Jason Momoa.
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