Dwayne The Rock Johnson played a pivotal part in the Fast and Furious franchise before branching out into the Hobbs and Shaw spin-off, but could he be returning for Fast and Furious 10? The forthcoming tenth film in the Fast and Furious franchise is set to be released in 2022, following F9 in 2021 and will see the return of director Justin Lin, whose most recent contributions to the franchise were Fast Five and Fast & Furious 6. The ninth film in the series will see Dom and his family battle Dom’s assassin brother, played by The Suicide Squad star John Cena. But very little is known about the plot of Fast & Furious 10.

It has been teased by the creators that Fast and Furious 10 may be the last film in the series, prompting fans to speculate that the Rock may return for this installment. The Rock’s blockbuster movie career has only grown more impressive since he exited the franchise with Fate of the Furious in 2017. In the years since, the actor has starred in the rebooted Jumanji series, a Baywatch reboot, and the disaster movies Rampage and Skyscraper; he’s not struggling to find roles. The actor may have particular trouble finding the time to return as he has also netted the title role of Black Adam in the upcoming DCEU film of the same name. However, series star Vin Diesel agreed to cameo in Tokyo Drift, so a return for the Rock would not be unprecedented.

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After all, the Fast and Furious franchise was an important stepping stone for the Rock on the road to superstardom, and his starring role in the Hobbs and Shaw spin-off series makes it clear he’s not done with Dom and co quite yet. The much-publicized feud between series star Vin Diesel and the Rock was rumored to be what put the kibosh on the Rock appearing in F9. But the pair appear to have buried the beef, as evidenced by Diesel’s support of Hobbes and Shaw upon its release. So with no interpersonal drama standing in the way of the reunion, is there any reason that fan-favorite Luke Hobbs wouldn’t be ready to return for one more adventure?

 Luke Hobbs tracks down Dom and his crew in Rio in Fast Five

It is undeniable that bringing back the Rock should be the direction that the filmmakers choose to go in and, like Han in F9, the return must be more than a trick. The actor’s larger than life screen presence elevated the four Fast and Furious films in which he appeared to instantly huge effect. First appearing in Fast Five in 2011, Johnson’s memorable role as Hobbs was often singled out as one of the elements that made this installment a return to form for the series. His campy theatrics blended well with the bruising action of the franchise, and his over-the-top delivery and famously stellar comic timing complimented the cast’s chemistry perfectly.

When series star Paul Walker tragically passed away in 2013, many fans were understandably concerned that the franchise would never be the same. But the Rock’s return as Hobbs was central to carrying on the franchise and his presence helped the filmmakers of Furious 7 as they finished scenes after Walker's death. The Rock's expanded role in this and subsequent films ensured that the series didn’t end with the loss of Walker. The film established Hobbs and Shaw as enemies before the pair went on to become unlikely partners, and the brutal fights between the duo elevated the action of the sequel to legendary levels. With Hobbs being both an important player in the series and a vital role in the Rock’s journey to screen stardom, the creators need to do all they can to ensure the actor puts in an appearance. A role for the Rock would make Fast and Furious 10 a perfect end before the future of the post-Fast-Saga franchise begins.

More: Fast and Furious Needs Another Tokyo Drift (But Not A Sequel)

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