Warning: Spoilers for Fast X
Fans were shocked and delighted to see Luke Hobbs (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) show up in Fast X's post-credit scene, but his return means that Fast & Furious 11 has to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. The Rock initially joined the high-octane world of Fast & Furious in Fast Five, but as the series progressed, whispers of a rumored feud between him and co-star Vin Diesel began to circulate. Regrettably, this long-standing tension between the two iconic actors reached its pinnacle during the eighth installment, The Fate of the Furious, which subsequently had a detrimental impact on the ninth chapter, F9.
The public fallout between the two stars inevitably overshadowed the storytelling within the later movies, hindering the overall storytelling in The Fate of the Furious and F9. As Fast & Furious 11 gains momentum, the challenge lies in ensuring that the return of Luke Hobbs brings about a fresh and harmonious dynamic within the Fast Saga, captivating audiences once more. With the stakes higher than ever, the success of Fast & Furious 11 hinges on fostering a collaborative and unified spirit among the cast and crew, as well as delivering a thrilling cinematic experience that reignites the franchise's fervor while leaving behind the ghosts of past feuds.
The Fate Of The Furious Was Hurt By The Rock & Vin Diesel's Feud
The Fate of the Furious suffered greatly due to the ongoing feud between the two actors, which ultimately impacted the final product. The hints of tension between The Rock and Diesel first surfaced in Fast & Furious 6 but reached a boiling point in The Fate of the Furious. The actors later confirmed they didn't even film any scenes together in the film. Plus, as a producer on the movie, Diesel even went as far as cutting a crucial scene that would have reunited Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) with Hobbs, which would have set the stage for the Statham and Rock reunion in Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.
According to reports, The Rock grew frustrated with Diesel's lateness and other behaviors that caused production delays for The Fate of Furious. This frustration translated into an onscreen awkwardness as it is evident that scenes were being filmed around the two actors, which damaged their characters' fight as a cohesive unit against the film's terrifying antagonist, Cipher. The final scene of the movie is particularly uncomfortable, with Hobbs present at the Toretto family barbecue but not sharing a single shot with the host. This disjointedness diminishes the impact of Toretto's speech about the importance of family.
Fast & Furious 11 Needs The Rock & Vin Diesel Onscreen Together
The Rock and Diesel's Fast & Furious feud timeline created obvious drama onscreen, but didn't actually ruin the films Fast & Furious 6 and Fate of the Furious. However, a similar distance between the two stars in Fast & Furious 11 could be detrimental to the entire franchise. Fast X's ending is a suspenseful cliffhanger that leaves the Toretto family in grave danger. It's highly unlikely that the franchise would kill off its central protagonist or his child. However, even if everyone survives, defeating Dante will depend on having all hands on deck. The final act of Fast X set the stage for an epic battle against the extraordinarily menacing and flamboyant villain.
For Toretto and his family to triumph, they will need the support of every ally, including Gisele (Gal Gadot), whose return from the dead also shocked fans. However, this cohesive heroes' battle cannot happen if the movie has to work around the egos and conflicts of its two prominent stars. To deliver the epic and anticipated conclusion to the franchise, Fast & Furious 11 must bring back a united Hobbs and Toretto together onscreen. The success of the Fast Saga's conclusion and the overall franchise hinges on creating a cohesive narrative. By prioritizing collaboration and putting aside personal differences, the franchise can ensure that Fast & Furious 11 becomes a worthy finale.
Is Dwayne Johnson And Vin Diesel's Feud Really Over?
After years of rumors, the feud between Dwayne The Rock and Vin Diesel was confirmed in August 2016, with The Rock's vague social media post referencing "candy asses" among the male stars of the Fast Saga. While it was unclear who The Rock's post was targeting, Vin Diesel interpreted it as a direct reference to himself. There are rumors that Diesel was jealous of the Rock's popularity and paycheck, and so already inclined to dislike him. They were cordial to each other in public, even referring to each other as brothers, but The Rock still declared he had no desire to return to the Fast Saga in 2021.
Finally, though, it seems that the feud has been resolved. Louis Leterrier, who took over directing Fast X from Justin Lin, showed The Rock the movie and asked him to return to Fast X as Hobbs. Soon after, The Rock apologized publicly for calling out Diesel on social media. Diesel responded that there was a lot of love for all the actors. As the Fast and Furious saga progresses, the franchise's cast must prioritize delivering a thrilling cinematic conclusion over this distracting feud. The resolution of the conflict between The Rock and Vin Diesel will be a crucial factor in preserving the franchise's high-octane glory in Fast & Furious 11.