They have a release date – April 14, 2017 – and publicly not announced much else, but now we know that at least one cast member will be back for Fast & Furious 8.
Speaking with Collider while doing the press rounds for the earthquake disaster film San Andreas opening in a few weeks, the actor confirmed that he would be back for another installment in the franchise –
Of course. It can’t go on without Hobbs.
Well, hold on there a moment, Dwayne. You’ve only been in three of the franchise’s seven films. That’s less than half. They seemed to be doing just fine before you showed up.
OK, maybe I’m just being a bit facetious. It is hard not to argue that the franchise’s popularity started to rise with Fast Five, which did feature Johnson’s debut as U.S. Diplomatic Security Service agent Luke Hobbs. But that character was just one part of the franchise’s ongoing transformation from “Point Break with cars” to the international heist/caper adventures the films are now.
Perhaps we’ll get to gauge the character’s popularity in relation to the rest of the series if the rumored spinoff film for the character ever comes about. It is something that Johnson is interested in.
We all are interested in it. I just had a big conversation with the studio. So we’ll see. I still think for me personally we’ve created a little bit of space for him in 7 and the gauge is set for what the audience will want. That’s my take on it, you know, but a lot of other people have to have input.
If a Hobbs solo spinoff film goes forward, might this be Universal trying to build their own Fast & Furious Cinematic Universe? Would you be up to see other characters in their own solo films? Personally, I think the films and characters work best in an ensemble setting, their interplay being one of the charms of the series. Of them all, I do think that the Hobbs character has probably the best chance of flying solo, though.
