“They were like text buddies”: John Cena’s Death Opens Up Rival Dwayne Johnson’s Second Reunion With Vin Diesel in Fast 11

Dwayne Johnson is poised to make his return to the Fast & Furious franchise as it approaches its conclusion. The finale to the saga, which commenced with the 11th installment, Fast X, released in 2023, extends through a spin-off and culminates in a two-part sequel to Fast X. Dwayne Johnson departed from the franchise following the spin-off Hobbs & Shaw, amidst earlier reports of strained working relations with co-star Vin Diesel.

Dwayne Johnson returns to the Fast & Furious franchise
The two actors reportedly did not share a single scene together in their previous movie, The Fate of the Furious. Nonetheless, fans and the new franchise director share excitement about witnessing the on-screen reunion of Hobbs and Dom once again.

Fast X Director Louis Leterrier Is Excited About Dwayne Johnson’s Return
Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson in Fast Five
Following Dwayne Johnson‘s departure, another rival of the Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle actor was introduced in the next film, F9. John Cena portrayed Jakob, Dom’s brother, and a rogue villain to the entire family. With the Peacemaker actor’s inclusion, many fans speculated that it was the end of the road for Johnson’s character.

However, Fast X director Louis Leterrier has hinted at a potential reunion between Dwayne Johnson’s Hobbs and Vin Diesel’s Dom towards the end of the movie. The Central Intelligence actor is set to return for a spin-off titled Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Reyes, where Johnson’s character clashes with Jason Momoa’s ruthless villain, Dante Reyes. Leterrier shared his excitement for this possible reunion:
“I just like the idea of them coming back together. What I realized – I’m like you, I was a fan reading – they’ve been talking all along. They were like text buddies wishing each other ‘Happy Birthday,’ ‘Merry Christmas.’ But being each in each other’s life.”
With the return of the Hercules actor, the film is undoubtedly steering toward a high-octane action-packed finale for the saga.

What Can We Expect From Dwayne Johnson and Fast 11? (Spoiler Alert)
Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto in Fast X
Dwayne Johnson’s spin-off will serve as a link connecting Fast X to its sequels. Leterrier mentioned that Vin Diesel intended to shape the final saga into a trilogy, with Fast X as the first of the three. At the end of Fast X, Dom’s entire family faces the wrath of Dante Reyes, leaving the fates of some characters uncertain. John Cena’s Jakob sacrifices himself to rescue Dom and his son, yet the fate of the latter remains unknown.

The film also featured the return of Gal Gadot‘s character, who rescues Letty and Cipher. The plane carrying Roman, Tej, Ramsey, and Han is shot down, leaving their outcomes uncertain as well. The movie concludes with Dante contacting Hobbes to inform him that he’s next.

This serves as the exact point from which both Hobbes & Reyes and the untitled Fast X sequel will begin. Since Johnson’s spin-off will function as a bridge, the main Fast & Furious timeline is expected to undergo a time jump before explaining what happened to each character.