Deadpool 2 director David Leitch may be tackling the Hobbs/Shaw Fast & Furious spinoff next. Starting with Fast Five and the addition of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson to its core ensemble, the Fast & Furious franchise has soared to new heights over the past several years. While that remained the case with last year's The Fate of the Furious, that film also made it clear that the series' expanded cast had gotten too big and filled with too many egos for its own good. As such, Johnson's character Luke Hobbs is now getting a Fast & Furious movie all to himself... and Jason Statham.
Johnson's schedule remains as busy as ever right now, but his Fast & Furious spinoff is already scheduled for theatrical release in 2019, with Statham lined up to costar as Deckard Shaw. It's also been reported that Charlize Theron may appear in the spinoff, reprising her villainous role from Fate of the Furious. While it remains to be seen if that actually happens, Theron's Atomic Blonde director is now the front-runner to helm the project.
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The Wrap is among the outlets reporting that Leitch is indeed the current frontrunner to direct said Fast & Furious spinoff. While The Wrap claims there isn't a formal offer yet, THR reports that early talks with Leitch have already begun. This new arrives a few months before Deadpool 2 opens in theaters, and suggests that Universal is expecting Leitch to become even more of a coveted director after his Ryan Reynolds comic book movie sequel hits theaters. Hence, negotiations are getting underway now.
As an action focused director, Leitch should fit in perfectly with the Fast & Furious franchise, but more specifically with the spinoff. Hobbs is a former government agent and more than capable of holding his own in a fight, while Shaw has proven time and time again to be a formidable opponent. The two characters - and Johnson and Statham as actors - lend themselves more to physical action, instead of the over the top car chases the franchise is known for. With that in mind, it should be an indication of what type of action movie this spinoff will be.
This is not a done deal, however, and other name directors (like Shane Black) have been floated as possibilities to direct the Fast & Furious spinoff before. If a deal with Leitch is reached, it would mark the first collaboration between him and Johnson, as well as a reunion for Leitch and Statham (who previously worked on The Mechanic together, where Leitch was a fight coordinator). Leitch directing the Fast & Furious spinoff would also, presumably, improve the odds of Theron signing on for the project, given their history together. Either way, it's clear that Leitch is aiming high in his search for his first post-Deadpool 2 directorial effort.
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More on the Fast & Furious spinoff as the story develops.
