Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's decision to not return for Fast & Furious 9 kicking off the franchise's final trilogy. With only two films left, Universal and series star and producer Vin Diesel are working to deliver a satisfying send-off to the beloved car-centric franchise. But they would have to do it without Luke Hobbs.
Debuting in teamed up with Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham). After skipping F9, however, Diesel is hoping that Johnson res Dom's group as The Fast Saga begins its culmination in Fast & Furious 10.
Unfortunately, this won't be happening. Despite Diesel's public pleading, Johnson outright confirmed that he will no longer be returning to the main The Fast Saga series. While this is disappointing for many who came to like Hobbs for his efficiency and mostly dry humor, this could be for the best for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it's no secret Johnson and Diesel don't exactly get along. While the pair has never properly addressed it, the indirect comments have shone a light on their on-set drama. More recently, Diesel has been keen on letting everything go if that means Johnson comes back for The Fast Saga's ending. But this doesn't guarantee that the pair would finally be able to work effectively together if The Rock chooses to take up that offer. Based on what's known about their feud, Johnson has had issues with Diesel's work ethic, which is something that they could continue to clash on if they reunite on set.
Secondly, Fast & Furious 10 can focus on the story instead. Bringing in someone as high-profile as Johnson could mean putting a considerable amount of screen time on his character, whether or not that's to set up Hobbs' next adventure. This will effectively take some of the focus on Diesel and his "la familia." Despite Hobbs eventually becoming an integral part of The Fast Saga, Fast & Furious 10 and its sequel should prioritize the core characters of the franchise. That includes Dom, Mia (Jordana Brewster), Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), and even the returning Han (Sung Kang). That's more than enough plot lines to tackle in two movies. Considering Hobbs' last appearance in Fate of the Furious, there's really no need to bring him back to the main franchise. His potential appearance in Fast & Furious 10 would really be more for appearances than the actual narrative.
In the end, there would just be less drama if Johnson doesn't participate in the next The Fast Saga film. Aside from preventing possible on-set drama between The Rock and Diesel, the pair wouldn't be forced to play nice with each other during the blockbuster's promotional tour. With Johnson confirming that he's not going to be back for Fast & Furious 10, everyone can move on from their feud and focus on the movie.
