Dwayne Johnson announced his surprise return to the “Fast and Furious” franchise after burying the hatchet with former rival Vin Diesel.
Johnson last appeared in the “Fast & Furious” spin-off “Hobbs & Shaw” alongside Jason Statham in 2019.
Prior to his change of heart, the actor has repeatedly insisted that there was “no chance” of him ever being back in the franchise.
He entered the franchise in 2011 when he played DSS agent Luke Hobbs in “Fast Five,” and he then went on to appear in 2013’s “Fast & Furious 6,” 2015’s “Furious 7,” and 2017’s “The Fate of the Furious.”
Taking to Twitter Thursday, Johnson said that he and Diesel have “put all the past behind us” as he gears up to reprise Hobbs.
“Hope you’ve got your funderwear on… HOBBS IS BACK,” he tweeted. “And he just got lei’d. Luke Hobbs will be returning to the Fast & Furious franchise. Your reactions around the world to Hobbs’ return in Fast X have blown us away.”
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson gave fans exciting news, saying he’s returning to the Fast & Furious franchise for a spin-off.Twitter, @TheRock
The move comes after Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson said he buried the hatchet with former rival Vin Diesel.Twitter, @TheRock
“The next Fast & Furious film you’ll see the legendary lawman in will be the HOBBS movie that will serve as a fresh, new chapter & set up for FASTX: Part II,” he added.
Johnson went on to say, “Last summer Vin 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.”
“I’ve built my career on an ‘Audience First’ mentality and that will always serve as my North Star,” he added.
Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson face off in 2011’s “Fast Five.”©Universal/Courtesy Everett Col
Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson are seen during Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.Daniel Smith/Universal Pictures
The pair’s feud began in 2016 when Johnson called out an unnamed male co-star as a “candy ass.”
While their beef appeared to have been squished over in 2019, Johnson publicly revealed in 2021 that he would no longer be part of the “Fast & Furious” family after Diesel made comments that he had to show Johnson “tough love” to get the performance they wanted out of him.
After Diesel posted publicly asking Johnson to return to the franchise, the actor called his move “an example of his manipulation.”
Dwayne Johnson, Vin Diesel, and Paul Walker, are spotted together during a scene from Fast & Furious 6.©Universal/Courtesy Everett Col
“I was very surprised by Vin’s recent post,” Johnson told CNN in 2021. “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. I privately spoke with my partners at Universal as well, all of whom were very supportive as they understand the problem.”
