Dwayne Johnson has officially put an end to his time on the Fast and Furious franchise. The 49-year-old wrestler turned movie star featured in four Fast and Furious films from 2011 to 2017. Alongside this, he also starred with Jason Statham in the action-packed spin-off movie, Hobbs and Shaw. However, while Johnson regards this time as an “amazing journey”, it is now a chapter in his life that is closed.
Responding to an open message on Instagram to return to the franchise by his ex-Fast and Furious co-star, Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson expressed that he was surprised by the plea. Diesel and Johnson have not had a smooth relationship throughout the years, with a bitter public feud between the two showcasing that tension between them existed off-camera as well as on-screen. However, in recent times, the dispute with the two actors seemed to have settled.
Speaking to CNN, Dwayne Johnson said “This past June, when Vin and I actually connected not over social media, I told him directly - and privately - that I would not be returning to the franchise. 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.” It appears as though Johnson has reached his goal of ending his run in the Fast and Furious series with “grace and gratitude”, however, while appreciative of Vin Diesel’s intention behind his post, it did not completely sit right with him and he voiced that “Vin's recent public post was an example of his manipulation. I didn't like that he brought up his children in the post, as well as Paul Walker's death. Leave them out of it.” Nevertheless, Johnson wishes his co-stars the best and has faith that the Fast and Furious films will continue to deliver.
Although his time on Fast and Furious has come to an end, Dwayne Johnson has not slowed down. 2021 has been his busiest year yet with his production company Seven Bucks Productions producing two hit films, Jungle Cruise (also starring Emily Blunt) and Red Notice, which became the most watched Netflix film of all time. Giving his thoughts on streaming services compared to theatrical release, Johnson said “…we are in a tremendous time in our Hollywood industry as we are in the eye of a massive opportunity to listen and learn what our audience and our consumers want and just as important, how they want it.”
Along with the success of these films, Dwayne Johnson has debuted his new biographical sitcom this year entitled Young Rock, also produced by his production company. If that was not enough, he has also added entrepreneur to his list of skills with the launch of his own brand of Tequila Teremana Tequila, which has sold a record-breaking 600,000 cases in its first year. It is clear that Dwayne Johnson has endless things to keep him busy.
Johnson’s character of Luke Hobbs added plenty of action and humour for Fast and Furious fans across the world and there is no doubt that he will be missed from future movies. However, many would be grateful that Johnson’s time ended amicably and with well wishes between himself and his co-stars. Dwayne Johnson has given his fans plenty to look forward to from him over the next few years, so while he may be gone from the Fast and Furious movies, there will be many opportunities to catch him on the big screen.
Source: CNN