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Surprise, Surprise! Dwayne Johnson Returns To Fast & Furious Franchise Amid Vin Diesel Feud

The cat is out of the bag. No turning back now.

Warning: Huge spoiler ahead for Fast X.

It looks like Dwayne Johnson has returned to the Fast & Furious saga.  

According to TheWrap, The Rock has reprised his role of Luke Hobbs in a cameo for the upcoming Fast X, out in cinemas on Thursday (May 18).  

Fast X, directed by Louis Leterrier (Transporter), is the first of a two-part finale; the second half, again helmed by Leterrier, is slated for 2025.

TheWrap dropped this revelation around the same time the social media embargo was lifted after Fast X’s world premiere in Rome on Friday (May 12).  

The outlet must really have it in for the Fast & Furious series/Vin Diesel or they really don’t give a hoot about review protocols. Did it ruin the surprise? Sure, but it’s also piqued our interest. 

In Singapore, the review embargo will be lifted on May 17, 8 am, a day before its general release.

If there’s any truth to the spoiler and not some belated April Fool’s joke, then that means the cold war between Johnson and Diesel is over. Or maybe they’ve reached some kind of détente.

The two actors had a public falling out during the making of 2017’s The Fate of the Furious aka Fast 8. Johnson had gone on record that he would never return to the carmageddon franchise, even though he did star in the 2019 spin-off Hobbs & Shaw alongside Jason Statham​​​​​​.

In November 2021, Diesel extended an olive branch to Johnson on Instagram, urging him to return to the 22-year-old film series which has earned more than US$7 billion (S$9.3 bil) worldwide. 

“I hope you rise to the occasion and fulfill your destiny,” Diesel wrote. But Johnson stood his ground. “I told [Diesel] directly that I would not be returning to the franchise,” Johnson told CNN the following month. “I was firm yet cordial with my words and said that I would always be supportive of the cast and always root for the franchise to be successful, but that there was no chance I would return.”

Did the Black Adam debacle — in which Johnson’s attempts to shape the DC cinematic universe in his image fell flat — have anything to do with him walking back on his decision? 

But that’s not the only Fast & Furious bombshell: Diesel, at Fast X’s world premiere, said the finale might be spread across three movies instead.

“Going into making this movie, the studio asked if this could be a two-part,” said Diesel (via Variety). “And after the studio saw this one, they said, ‘Could you make Fast X, the finale, a trilogy?”

Is this guy for real? Don’t forget Diesel once had the whole world believing that he’d joined the cast of the Avatar sequels but this was later refuted by the producer.

Fast X pits Diesel’s Dominic Torello and his carburetor crew against a new nemesis played by Jason Momoa. The cast includes Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Michelle Rodriguez, Sung Kang, Jason Statham, Ludacris, John Cena, Rita Morena, Helen Mirren, Brie Larson, Charlize Theron, and Nathalie Emmanuel. The late Paul Walker’s daughter Meadow also has a cameo in the sequel.

Fast X opens on May 18, with sneaks on May 17. Diesel is also in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, providing the voice of Groot.

Photos: TPG News/Click Photos

Watch exclusive 8 DAYS interviews on meWATCH and Mediacorp YouTube Channel.

Related topics

Hollywood Fast X Vin Diesel Dwayne Johnson

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