The Rock and Jason Statham's Fast & Furious Returns as well as Hobbs & Shaw 2's absence
Given Dwayne Johnson's (also known as "The Rock) comeback to the Fast & Furious series and Jason Statham's return as well, the absence of Hobbs & Shaw 2 is even more confusing. Johnson joined the franchise in the Fast Five in 2011, then made a cameo in the sequel and formally debuted as Deckard Shaw in the Furious 7 in 2015. Several of the sequels feature both performers in key roles.
The Strange Case of the Hobbs & Shaw Spinoff
But the characters of Hobbs and Shaw were split off into the spinoff Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw in 2019, maybe in response to a well-publicized conflict between Johnson and his co-star, Vin Diesel, a pillar of the franchise since the first 2001 movie. Originally under development shortly following the release of the first movie, a Hobbs & Shaw 2 finally ran flat. Since then, the initiative has evolved into a new spinoff called Hobbs & Reyes, which will coincide with Fast X in 2023 and stars Johnson and Jason Momoa.
Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson Come Back to the Fast & Furious Franchise
It seemed like the Hobbs & Shaw spinoff might cause Johnson and Statham to leave the main franchise before they showed up in Fast X. Their appearances first seemed to be little cameos. Statham appeared uncredited in a scene unrelated to the story in F9, thus this was the case as well. Still, both performers were rather important in Fast X. Statham's performance was more like a cameo, while Johnson's looks suggested a possible participation in next episodes.
Reunion of Hobbs & Shaw in Fast X
Johnson and Statham's appearances in Fast X qualify as a reunion even with Hobbs & Shaw 2's delay. Though they did not share screen time, their combined appearance in the Fast Saga marked their first working together since 2019. Johnson's packed schedule—which included movies like Black Adam, Jungle Cruise, and Red Notice—probably kept him off the Fast X set.
The Unresolved Riddle of Hobbs & Shaw 2
Even Johnson and Statham are returning to the main franchise, the absence of Hobbs & Shaw 2 still puzzles us. With a 67% Rotten Tomatoes score, the movie was critically received and matched The Fate of the Furious. This further makes the lack of the sequel quite perplexing.
Though not reaching the billion-dollar mark, Hobbs & Shaw had a successful commercial performance. Against a $200 million budget, it grossed $760.7 million, ranking 11th highest grossing movie of 2019. Still, Fast X's performance and ballooning budget might have affected the choice against a sequel.
Fast X's box office performance may have lagged behind its forebears, but given the franchise's history, one should still take note. The main franchise has seen a commercial downturn since Hobbs & Shaw's premiere, thus the box office numbers of the spinoff look more important in retrospect. In five years, this film ranks highest among the franchise's grossers.
Plans Ahead for Hobbs and Shaw
Including Johnson and Statham in Fast X suggested their comeback for next seasons. Since then, it has been confirmed that both performers are supposed to return in Fast 11. The project's development has been turbulent, though, with contradicting announcements on its future—including its possible as the farewell for the franchise.
Johnson's part in Fast 11 is yet unknown. Though hinted at in Fast X, he might show up in the main franchise or only in the Hobbs & Reyes spinoff. Hobbs & Shaw 2 seems to have been shelved for now, despite the several spinoffs under development.
