The tease at the end of “Fast X” hinted at it, but now it’s official: THR reports that Dwayne Johnson will return to the “Fast And Furious” franchise for another installment. So does that mean Luke Hobbs will return for “Fast 11“? Not so fast: this new film isn’t that one, “Fast 12,” or even a spinoff like 2019’s “Hobbs and Shaw.” Instead, the movie will serve as a bridge between “Fast X” and its sequel, with other “Fast And Furious” also involved.
So does that mean Johnson and franchise lead Vin Diesel have buried the hatchet? Kind of. After the very public clash between the two stars on the set of 2016’s “Fate Of The Furious,” Johnson took to Instagram to call out an unnamed male actor on the film. And since then, Johnson has insisted countless times to the press and in interviews he’ll no longer be part of the main franchise. “I wish them well on “Fast 9.” And I wish them the best of luck on “Fast 10” and “Fast 11” and the rest of the “Fast & Furious” movies they do that will be without me,” Johnson told THR in 2021.
That didn’t stop Diesel from publicly appealing to Johnson to return for “Fast X” a few months later. Johnson told CNN that there was “no chance” he’d return, and added he told Diesel that privately before the actor appealed. “I privately spoke with my partners at Universal as well, all of whom were very supportive as they understand the problem,” Johnson said. However, “Fast X” director Louis Leterrier told THR in May that after he convinced Johnson to watch the blockbuster before its release the actor changed his tune. “We reached out to Dwayne and his team, and said, ‘Just come and watch the movie. You have to love the movie first.’ So he came to see the movie and really loved it, and when we started talking.”
And those talks eventually lead to Johnson getting back in the driver’s seat as Hobbs. Johnson took to Instagram today to announce his return. “Last summer @vindiesel 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,” he tweeted. But just because Diesel and Johnson resolved their issues doesn’t mean they’ll be together onscreen again. Diesel isn’t part of Johnson’s upcoming film, and Johnson likely won’t be back for “Fast 11” or “Fast 12” either.
So what else is going on with Johnson’s new “Fast And Furious” film? Well, Chris Morgan returns to pen the script after not being part of “Fast 9” and “Fast X.” Morgan wrote six of the main franchise films and also wrote “Hobbs & Shaw” with Johnson and Jason Statham. Johnson will produce the still-untitled film through his Seven Bucks Productions with partners Dany Garcia and Hariam Garcia. Diesel will also produce the movie, along with Samantha Vincent through One Race. Morgan will also produce through Chris Morgan Productions, along with Jeff Kirschenbaum through Roth/Kirschenbaum Films, and Neal Moritz for Original Film.
So, to keep count: with “Fast 11” now split into two movies, Johnson’s new “not a main franchise film but also not a spinoff film” makes three upcoming “Fast And Furious” titles. So much for “Fast 11” being the final ride for Vin Diesel’s family. More news on this project as it comes. As for “Fast X,” it’s already made its budget back at the box office after two weekends.