After Dwayne Johnson’s unexpected return in Fast X, Hobbs made a surprise return in Fast X. As Dante Reyes continued his quest to pick off everyone in Dom Toretto’s crew in retaliation for his father’s death, he called Hobbs and warned him that he was his next target.
While it’s exciting that Hobbs is back and he can get a proper ending in Fast & Furious 11, Hobbs hasn’t really been Hobbs for a few movies now. As Johnson’s movie star image has evolved (into something far less interesting), Hobbs has become a much safer character in the Fast & Furious franchise. Now that he’s back and he’s being targeted for vengeance by one of the Fast & Furious saga’s most dangerous villains, Hobbs needs to ditch The Rock’s safe on-screen persona and go back to his darker original characterization.
Luke Hobbs Hasn't Been The Same Character In Fast & Furious Since Furious 6
Hobbs Just Became Another Generic Dwayne Johnson Character
When Hobbs was introduced in Fast Five, he was a morally ambiguous character. He was a vicious antagonist who wanted nothing more than to bring Dom and his crew to justice. Halfway through Fast Five, Hobbs got into a brutal fight with Dom. Over the course of that movie and Fast & Furious 6, he gradually grew to respect Dom’s crew and even became a reliable ally. But he was still reluctant to call himself Dom’s friend, and his loyalty to law enforcement came before his loyalty to Dom and his family.
Fast & Furious' Timeline Will Only Get More Confusing After The Rock's Fast X Return
It's great to see Dwayne Johnson back in the Fast & Furious franchise, but his Luke Hobbs spin-off will complicate the timeline.
Then, in Furious 7, The Fate of the Furious, and Hobbs & Shaw, the way the character was written completely changed. He went from being the villain who reluctantly teamed up with Dom — the ethically questionable antihero who will bend the law to enforce it — to just a generic, run-of-the-mill The Rock character. Johnson’s character in these later sequels is less recognizable as Hobbs from the previous Fast & Furious films and more familiar as Johnson’s rigid, unwavering, interchangeable on-screen persona from movies like Rampage and Skyscraper and Red Notice.
Dante Is Out For Revenge, So Hobbs Will Have To Step Up In Fast & Furious 11
Dispatching Dante Will Require The Old Hobbs To Make A Comeback
Dante is out for blood, and he demonstrated in Fast X that he’s not messing around. Now that he’s coming after Hobbs, it’s time for the classic, more reckless Hobbs who (literally) shoots first and asks questions later to make a comeback. When Dante called Hobbs to threaten him in Fast X, Hobbs sternly told him he wouldn’t be hard to find, accepting the challenge of a vengeful old enemy coming back to haunt him. This teased the return of badass Hobbs, and now, Fast & Furious 11 needs to follow up on it.
A sequel to Hobbs & Shaw called Hobbs & Reyes is in development.
Dante is essentially the Fast & Furious franchise’s answer to the Joker. Jason Momoa even plays him like Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker. And taking down a Joker in Fast & Furious 11 will require a Batman. The generic The Rock character that Hobbs has turned into is nothing like the Dark Knight, but Hobbs in his original form had a lot in common with the Bat. This version of Hobbs needs to come back in Fast 11 if Dom and his crew want an honest shot at defeating Dante once and for all.
Fast & Furious' Hobbs Change Was Part Of A Larger Dwayne Johnson Problem
It Was Around The Time The Rock Became A Franchise Unto Himself
The change in Hobbs’ characterization happened around the time that Johnson became a franchise unto himself, always playing the same character in the same type of movie. He stopped being an actor and became more of a brand with an image to protect. He stopped playing characters who were even the slightest bit unlikable. Every character he played was both an unstoppable force of nature and a lovable softie. And that’s what happened to Hobbs after Fast & Furious 6: he stopped being an individual character and just became an extension of The Rock’s brand.
He stopped being an individual character and just became an extension of The Rock’s brand.
From Furious 7 onward, Hobbs was characterized as a badass with a heart of gold. He’s a tough-as-nails mercenary who will also coach a girls’ soccer team. He rips his cast off to the final battle and redirects a missile with his bare hands, but he’s also a loving father. It’s much too safe — Johnson’s original take on Hobbs was a lot more fun. Before the Fast & Furious saga ends (maybe?) with Fast & Furious 11, Hobbs needs to return to his original characterization and go a little darker.
Fast X: Part 2
- Release Date
- 2026
- Director
- Louis Leterrier
- Writers
- Christina Hodson, Oren Uziel
- Producers
- Dwayne Johnson
Cast
Dominic Toretto
Deckard Shaw
Luke Hobbs
Dante Reyes
Fast X: Part 2 is the eleventh installment in The Fast Saga. It continues the high-octane adventures of Dom Toretto and his crew as they face new challenges and adversaries. Known for its explosive action sequences, the film builds on the franchise's legacy of fast cars and family loyalty.
