Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has posted a new behind-the-scenes video from the set of Hobbs & Shaw showing his character landing a brutal bodyslam on a hapless bad guy. A spinoff venture from the ever-expanding The Fast & The Furious franchise, Hobbs & Shaw reunites Johnson's Luke Hobbs with his bitter enemy, Jason Statham's Deckard Shaw. Johnson made his debut in the action series back in 2011's Fast Five, with Statham's character introduced during a brief appearance in Fast & Furious 6 two years later. While these two characters have traditionally been at odds with each other, Hobbs & Shaw finds the duo joining forces to take down Idris Elba's Brixton Lore - a genetically enhanced criminal with a virus that could wipe out humanity.
The Fast & The Furious may have been about racing and cars once upon a time, but that hasn't affected the franchise's popularity at the box office, with each movie attracting a host of big-name supporting talent. Hobbs & Shaw is no different in this regard, and will feature Helen Mirren, Vanessa Kirby and WWE Superstar, Roman Reigns. Johnson is, of course, no stranger to the world of professional wrestling, making his name in the industry during WWE's revered Attitude Era along with the likes of Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker. Since hanging up his grappling boots, Johnson has become one of the most bankable A-listers in Hollywood and enjoys a near-constant presence on the big screen.
Posting on his Instagram account, Dwayne Johnson has revealed some behind-the-scenes footage of his character delivering a huge slam to a generic baddie, who soars through the air via the use of wires. Although The Rock jokingly insists he doesn't need the extra mechanical assistance to "toss fools up," the move looks so effortless, it's unlikely even his youngster WWE self could pull off such a stunt.
It's interesting that Johnson's post describes Hobbs & Shaw as an "epic finale," which may suggest that there are currently no plans for a potential sequel, even if the movie performs strongly. With Johnson set to portray Black Adam in a future DC movie and openly courting a Marvel role following the huge success of Avengers: Endgame, it's possible that the actor is hoping to move on from the Fast and Furious series, but the phrasing may also have been more figurative, referring to the culmination of his and Statham's feud in the narrative.
Even with wires, set and cameras in full view, this slam makes for a superb visual and will undoubtedly look even better in the finished product with the story context and suspension of belief in place, and this can perhaps be said of the Fast and Furious franchise as a whole. Hobbs & Shaw may not be the smartest film released this summer, but there's no doubt it'll be an adrenaline-fueled spectacle.
Source: Dwayne Johnson
