In 2017, the Fast & Furious franchise announced a spinoff starring Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham, marking a new direction for the series.
Fast and Furious (Source: NPR)
The “Fast & Furious” franchise has been synonymous with adrenaline-pumping action, high-speed chases, and a family of characters that fans have grown to love over the years. But back in 2017, the franchise took an unexpected turn, giving two of its standout characters their very own spotlight. Let’s hit the brakes and look back at the moment Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham were announced to lead a spinoff, steering the franchise into a new direction.
The dynamic duo takes the wheel
In October 2017, Universal Studios dropped a bombshell: Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham, two of the most charismatic and action-packed stars of the “Fast & Furious” series, were set to headline their own spinoff. The news was met with a mix of excitement and curiosity. “It’s so on,” as they say, and Johnson even took to Instagram to confirm the exhilarating news.
The chemistry between Statham’s character, the reformed villain Deckard, and Johnson’s character, the Diplomatic Security Service agent Hobbs, was undeniable in “The Fate of the Furious.” Their on-screen camaraderie and banter “stole the show” and had fans and critics alike speculating about a potential film centered around their dynamic.
A shift in gears for the franchise
The announcement of the spinoff came with another significant piece of news: the release date for “Fast & Furious 9” was pushed back to April 10, 2020. This delay made room for the spinoff to speed into theaters on July 26, 2019, a slot initially reserved for the ninth installment of the main franchise.
While the franchise had always been about family, camaraderie, and of course, fast cars, this move signaled Universal’s intention to expand the universe and explore new narratives. After all, F. Gary Gray’s “The Fate of the Furious” had raked in a staggering nearly $1.2 billion worldwide after its release in April.
However, not everyone was thrilled about the spinoff. Tyrese, a staple of the “Fast & Furious” series, expressed his displeasure on Instagram, hinting at a potential rift within the family. His words, “Congratulations to @TheRock…for making the Fast and Furious franchise about YOU,” echoed the sentiments of a few fans who were wary of the change in direction.
Looking back at a franchise in overdrive
Since its inception in 2001, the “Fast & Furious” franchise has amassed a whopping $5 billion worldwide. The spinoff was a testament to the series’ ability to evolve, adapt, and continue delivering high-octane entertainment to its global fanbase.
As we reminisce about this pivotal moment in the franchise’s history, we can’t help but appreciate the risks, the revs, and the relentless drive that has kept “Fast & Furious” at the forefront of action cinema.
Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.
