Nevertheless, in spite of his earlier remarks, Johnson made an unexpected cameo as Luke Hobbs in the newest Fast and Furious film.
Johnson supposedly makes an appearance in a sequence at the conclusion of the credits for Fast X, which opens in theaters on May 19.
Regarding Johnson’s cameo, an official from Universal Pictures chose not to comment.
Johnson, who first appeared in the Fast Five movie franchise in 2011, was most recently seen in the Hobbs & Shaw spinoff starring Jason Statham in 2019.
Alongside a star-studded ensemble that includes Vin Diesel, Jason Momoa, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Michelle Rodriguez, Ludacris, John Cena, Rita Moreno, Helen Mirren, Brie Larson, Charlize Theron, Nathalie Emmanuel, and more, Statham makes his comeback as Deckard Shaw in the new film. The late Paul Walker’s daughter Meadow also appears in the follow-up.
Johnson’s cameo follows his earlier declaration that he would not be returning to the Fast and Furious franchise and his open discussion of his differences with Diesel.
Diesel referred to Johnson as his “little brother” in an Instagram post from November 2021, and he openly requested him to return for the “finale of Fast 10.”
“I told you years ago that I was going to fulfill my promise to Pablo,” Diesel stated, showing his reference to Walker. “I promised that in the 10th conclusion, we would quickly reach and actualize the best! I say this out of love, but you have a very significant position to play in the franchise, so you need to show up. Don’t sit this one out. Hobbs is unplayable by anybody else. I wish for you to rise to the challenge and achieve your goals.”
A month later, Johnson responded by telling CNN that he had told Diesel, in private and explicitly, that he would not be rejoining the team.
Johnson described Diesel’s Instagram post as “an example of his manipulation” and said he was “very surprised” by it.
He clarified that he had told Universal Pictures in private and directly that he would not be returning to the franchise.
Johnson wished his former co-stars and crew colleagues luck and success and stated his belief in the Fast universe despite the public discourse.
In an effort to keep things low-key for everyone concerned, Johnson told Vanity Fair in October 2021 that he only consented to star in 2017’s The Fate of the Furious if he wouldn’t have to share any scenes with Diesel.