The Fast & Furious movie series is just going to have to come to an end without bringing back The Rock. Previously, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson debuted in the franchise with his role as Luke Hobbs in 2011’s Fast Five. going on to reprise the role in the sixth, seventh, and eighth films. The character has since branched out to lead his own spinoff with The Rock co-starring with Jason Statham in Hobbs & Shaw.
Johnson did not appear in F9, and this was largely due to the friction between the actor and Vin Diesel on the Fast & Furious sets. Ultimately, The Rock decided that he didn’t want to deal with it again, and publicly announced he wouldn’t return for the final two Fast films. Diesel later posted to Instagram a message pleading for Johnson to return in F10 & F11. Now, in a new interview with CNN, The Rock reiterated that there was “no chance” he would come back, and the Instagram post only made things worse.
“I told [Diesel] directly 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. 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. We had spoken months ago about this and came to a clear understanding.”
The Rock also suggests that his issues were only with Diesel, and he lends his support to the rest of the cast and crew involved in the Fast & Furious franchise. He hints that he’d rather have had all of these problems with Diesel stay quiet, but regardless, he says he’s rooting for what will be the last installments of the main series to do well anyway.
“My goal all along was to end my amazing journey with this incredible franchise with gratitude and grace. It’s unfortunate that this public dialogue has muddied the waters. Regardless, I’m confident in the Fast universe and its ability to consistently deliver for the audience… I truly wish my former co-stars and crew members the best of luck and success in the next chapter.”
The reported plan for F10 was for the penultimate movie of the series to start shooting in January. Vin Diesel has also suggested that the film will shoot back-to-back with F11. If Dwayne Johnson was going to return, it was going to have to happen soon, but it looks like those hopes are over.
“The world awaits the finale of Fast 10,” Diesel wrote in his original Instagram post. “As you know, my children refer to you as Uncle Dwayne in my house. There is not a holiday that goes by that they and you don’t send well wishes… but the time has come. Legacy awaits. I told you years ago that I was going to fulfill my promise to Pablo. I swore that we would reach and manifest the best Fast in the finale that is 10!”
Fast & Furious 10 is scheduled for a release in theaters on May 19, 2023.
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