In case you may have tricked ourselves into believing that the ever-lucrative “Fast and Furious” films are beginning to wind down, a casting update for the bombastic cars-and-guns franchise is proving that they’re only ever looking to get bigger. According to Deadline, John Cena’s massive biceps – fresh off roles in “Blockers,” “Bumblebee” and “Fighting with My Family” – are set to be the latest to join the series, having been inked for a role in the upcoming ninth installment of the mainline franchise.
It’s perfect timing for Cena; his profile as an actor is only getting bigger, following in the footsteps of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dave Bautista as former wrestlers transitioning to the big screen.
The “Fast and Furious” movies are a perfect place for the actor to show off his underrated combo of massive physique and sneaky humor. With rumors swirling that Cena may have a part to play in James Gunn’s upcoming “The Suicide Squad,” he’ll increasingly be becoming a household name in the near-future.
Little is known about his role in the movie, but Deadline reports he is playing “a badass.” Sounds appropriate.
Johnson, meanwhile, isn’t expected to return to series. One possible reason: reported on-set feuding with co-star Vin Diesel, who we can see returning as series OG Dominic Toretto until there is no more Corona in the world to lift up and say “Salud” to.
The Rock isn’t entirely out of the universe, though; we’re all counting down the days when he’ll be driving cars out of skyscrapers and hanging onto flying helicopters with Jason Statham in the series spinoff “Hobbs and Show,” set to blast into theaters on August 2. The more “Fast and Furious”-caliber of delightfully, unapologetically over-the-top action, the better.
“Fast and Furious 9” – with a more pun-worthy title presumably still to be announced – is set to hit theaters on May 22, 2020, with Justin Lin returning to the series after helping it rediscover its identity with 2009’s “Fast and Furious.”