A decade ago, few pundits would have predicted how huge the Fast & Furious franchise would eventually become. And yet here we are, eight films into the main series – and now comes a spin-off. Yes, beloved characters Hobbs and Shaw are getting their own team-up adventure, appropriately titled Hobbs and Shaw. Here’s your essential guide to the all-action smackdown.
Who Are Hobbs and Shaw?
You’re kidding right? OK, strap in for a whirlwind trip through the frankly bonkers Fast & Furious franchise. ‘Hobbs’ is Agent Luke Hobbs, played by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. He was first introduced in Fast Five as an adversary to Dominic Toretto’s (Vin Diesel) criminal gang who were planning a ludicrous Rio heist to nab a vault of money from drug lord Hernan Reyes. When Reyes bumped off all of Hobbs’ team, the beefed-up agent helped Toretto and co. with their heist to get back at him. With a grudging respect, Hobbs gave the gang a 24-hour head start to go on the run – and ended up reteaming with them in Fast & Furious 6 to bring down terrorist Owen Shaw, and in Fast & Furious 7 to go after Owen’s big bad brother Deckard.
Still managing to keep up? The 'Shaw' we’re talking about here is Deckard Shaw, played by none other than Jason Statham. He was a real big baddie in the series – in a twist at the very end of Fast 6, Deckard Shaw made his series entrance when it was revealed that he caused the car crash in The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift that killed off beloved team member Han. Yes, the third F&F is technically a sequel to the sixth film. Anyway, after being totally, irrevocably evil in Fast & Furious 7, he of course turned into a good guy in Fast 8 and worked alongside Toretto and pals.
How does Hobbs and Shaw tie into the Fast and Furious series?
There’s been no official confirmation, but with the pair set to be working on the same side it’s likely that Hobbs and Shaw will be set after Fast & Furious 8. If the franchise is taking life a quarter mile at a time, this should be a fun sightseeing detour on the path to Fast & Furious 9.
Who’s the villain in Hobbs and Shaw?
The villain is Idris Elba, playing (ahem) Brixton Lore, a former MI6 agent who has been (ahem ahem) genetically and cybernetically "enhanced" and is now a terrorist who wants to wipe out the human race with a lab-created virus. You’re thinking what we’re thinking: have you ever wanted anything more than a film about The Rock and Jason Statham fighting an augmented Idris Elba? No, no you haven’t.
Will the other Shaw family members appear?
There's no sign of Luke Evans’ Owen Shaw, but Helen Mirren is aboard as Owen and Deckard's no-nonsense cockney mum, Magdalene Shaw. Frankly, any excuse to get her back into the franchise should be taken with both hands. There’s another Shaw knocking around too – Vanessa Kirby has been cast inHobbs and Shaw as Deckard and Owen’s sister, who happens to be an MI5 agent. Because of course she is.
Who directed Hobbs and Shaw?
David Leitch cooked this one up – which seems an ideal combination of filmmaker and material. Leitch was the co-director of John Wick, which he followed up with Atomic Blonde and this year’s Deadpool 2. Fingers crossed he’s delivered some of the best action sequences in Fast history.
Who wrote Hobbs and Shaw?
The film is written by Chris Morgan – a sure sign that this is no watered-down side project. He’s written every Fast film since Tokyo Drift, so he helped create these characters and he knows them inside out. He’s also written Fast 9, so there’s a chance he could set some plot threads in motion to be picked up by the next main series instalment.
When is Hobbs and Shaw released?
It’s revving up for a 2 August 2019 arrival – so expect Hobbs and Shaw to inject a nitrous boost right in the middle of your summer.
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