Summary
“Fast X’s post-credits scene sets up Hobbs’ return to the main Fast and Furious saga.”
“Hobbs & Shaw spinoff didn’t live up to the excitement of the main Fast and Furious movies.”
“The best thing about The Rock’s return is the prospect of seeing Hobbs rejoin the crew in Fast and Furious 11.”
Dwayne Johnson’s Luke Hobbs has rejoined Fast and Furious in Fast X, but his return could end up repeating the same mistake as the saga’s previous $760 million spinoff film. Fast X’s cliffhanger ending was marketed as the movie’s biggest selling point. However, the most significant twist from the latest Fast and Furious film was saved for the post-credits scene, which confirmed the reports of Dwayne Johson rejoining the franchise. Fast X was a box office disappointment, but there are at least two more Fast and Furious movies in the work.
Fast X was about Dante Reyes’ revenge for the death of his father, which has not been concluded yet and will lead into the upcoming Fast & Furious 11. Dante targeted the “Fast and Furious family” and had files on every friend and associate of Dominic Toretto. However, it was only during the post-credits scene that Dante acknowledged the person who was really responsible for Hernan Reyes’ death in what was the perfect setup for Hobbs’ return.
The Rock Has Returned To Fast & Furious (For Another Spinoff)
Hobbs previously appeared in the Hobbs & Shaw spinoff
Dwayne Johnson returned to the Fast and Furious universe during Fast X’s post-credits scene, marking Hobbs’ fast appearance in the main saga since 2017’s The Fate of the Furious. The public feud between Vin Diesel and The Rock, which hit the news during the making of The Fate of the Furious, was followed by Johnson’s exit from the main franchise. Hobbs would still appear in a spinoff movie, Hobbs & Shaw, which starred Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham. Both Hobbs and Shaw were missing from F9, and it was unclear whether either of them would be in Fast X.
Although Statham’s Shaw appeared in the Fast X trailers, Johnson’s involvement in the movie was only announced a couple of days before it arrived in theaters. In theory, Hobbs appearing at the end of Fast X means that The Rock is finally back into the main saga and will interact with the rest of the family in the new films. However, Johnson’s return was immediately followed by the announcement of a Hobbs spinoff movie, which will not be a sequel to Hobbs & Shaw but rather a new project entirely.
Dwayne Johnson’s new Fast and Furious spinoff is expected to take place between Fast X and Fast & Furious 11, which makes sense considering the former ended with Dante Reyes announcing he is going after Luke Hobbs. The Rock’s character was the only one who actually killed Dante Reyes’ father, meaning there was no better time to bring Hobbs back than now. Still, this should be a plot point for Fast & Furious 11 rather than for a spinoff film. Fast X’s post-credits scene teased Hobbs rejoining the family, which is why having yet another spinoff can be anti-climactic.
Hobbs & Shaw Already Proved Spinoffs Aren’t As Exciting As The Main F&F Movies
Fast and Furious is all about the main family
Hobbs & Shaw was not a box office failure. Quite the contrary, the first Fast and Furious spinoff grossed $760 million on a &200 million budget, a solid return for a film that didn’t feature most of the saga’s cast. Still, compared to Fast and Furious’ biggest hits, Hobbs & Shaw was not that impressive. For example, both Furious 7 and The Fate of the Furious grossed more than a billion dollars each, whereas F9 made $726 million during a pandemic context. Even without considering box office numbers, Hobbs & Shaw was just not as exciting as the main films.
Fast and Furious Movies (release order) Box Office The Fast and the Furious $206,458,372 2 Fast 2 Furious $236,410,607 The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift $157,794,205 Fast & Furious $359,347,833 Fast Five $629,975,898 Fast & Furious 6 $789,300,444 Furious 7 $1,511,986,364 The Fate of the Furious $1,235,534,014 Hobbs & Shaw $760,732,926 F9 $719,360,510 Fast X $714,582,312
Although the Fast and Furious timeline is very confusing and full of retcons, particularly regarding Tokyo Drift’s placement in the saga’s chronology, the franchise was built on an interconnected storyline centered on Brian and Dom. The Dominic Toretto family discourses may have become a meme, but this is an important part of the movies – Fast and Furious is just not the same without its main characters. Both Hobbs and Shaw were great additions to the series, even more so after they were redeemed, but Hobbs & Shaw lacked what made Fast and Furious special.
The Rock’s New Fast & Furious Spinoff Makes Hobbs & Shaw 2’s Status Worse
Hobbs & Shaw 2 has yet to happen
Despite the solid box office returns, a sequel to Hobbs & Shaw 2 never happened, which has always caused some confusion among audiences. If Hobbs & Shaw was supposed to be the beginning of a new series of Fast and Furious movies starring Johnson and Statham, it is curious that a second film never happened. Both actors are usually booked and busy, which might help explain why Hobbs & Shaw 2 did not come to be. Additionally, given the significant budget of the film, the studio may have decided to focus on the main Fast Saga films for now.
It is still unclear when
Fast and Furious
will end, as there have been different comments and reports ever since
Fast & Furious 10
was first announced.
Whatever is behind Hobbs & Shaw 2 still has not happened five years after the first movie premiered, and the fact that a brand new Hobbs spinoff is now in the works makes it all more confusing. If the spinoff approach did not work well enough for a sequel to be greenlighted, then it could be assumed that no other Fast and Furious spinoffs would enter production until at least the main saga concluded. There is still a lot to be learned about the Hobbs movie, though, including how it will tie into Fast & Furious 11.
The Best Thing About The Rock’s Fast & Furious Return Isn’t The Hobbs Movie
Hobbs being in Fast 11 sounds more exciting
Hobbs’ new spinoff film could repeat the same mistakes made by Hobbs & Shaw, which distanced itself from the main saga way too much. As entertaining as Hobbs & Shaw was, it could have been a standalone film featuring original characters and not much would have changed. This is why the best thing about The Rock’s return to Fast and Furious is not the announced spinoff but rather the prospect of seeing Hobbs rejoin the crew once more before the franchise ends. Presumably, Hobbs will be part of Fast & Furious 11.
1:58 Related Only Two Fast and Furious Movies Have Truly Delivered On The Franchise’s Original Premise Fast & Furious is often criticized for having abandoned its original premise, but only two movies in the Fast Saga have truly lived up to its name.
It is still unclear when Fast and Furious will end, as there have been different comments and reports ever since Fast & Furious 10 was first announced. Regardless, whichever is Fast and Furious’ final movie, it would benefit from having Hobbs in it. Dwayne Johnson has been part of the franchise since 2011, having become as important to the Fast Saga as some of the older characters. The Hobbs movie can be great, but having Johnson starring alongside the rest of the Fast and Furious family for the first time since 2017 sounds even more promising.
Sources: The Numbers
Watch Fast X on Prime Video