High-Octane Action Unfolds as Hobbs & Shaw Pioneer Unexplored Realms in the Fast-Paced Universe
In the dynamic world of Hollywood, director David Leitch has proven his versatility, having helmed blockbusters like Deadpool 2, Atomic Blonde, and John Wick (co-directed with Chad Stahelski). Now, he's set to bring his unique blend of visceral action and seriously funny moments to the high-stakes universe of the Fast & Furious franchise with the standalone film, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.
This film marks the first expansion of the franchise, aiming to amp up the sharp-edged humor and high-stakes action. Leitch plans to infuse the film with a fresh new cinematic take on action and character-driven story, while maintaining the core dramatic themes of family and brotherhood that have made the Fast & Furious films so beloved.
The plot revolves around a cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist named Brixton Lorr, who gains control of an insidious bio-threat. Brixton bests a rogue MI6 agent named Hattie, Shaw's sister, and the two sworn enemies are forced to partner up to bring him down.
Drew Pearce, known for his work on movies like Iron Man 3, Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, Pacific Rim, and Godzilla, was brought on to pen the screenplay. The idea for a stand-alone film centered on Luke Hobbs and Deckard Shaw was an evolution from the initial plan to explore a spin-off Hobbs film. Pearce also wrote and directed Hotel Artemis and the celebrated Marvel One-Shot: All Hail the King, starring Ben Kingsley.
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw is directed by David Leitch and written by Chris Morgan and Drew Pearce. Morgan, the franchise's longtime narrative architect, began his tenure with the series on director Justin Lin's The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
The film features Dwayne Johnson as Luke Hobbs and Jason Statham as Deckard Shaw. Johnson's character, Luke Hobbs, was a dynamic adversary who eventually became an unexpected ally to the team over his four-movie arc, but very little was revealed about his personal history.
Leitch was attracted to the Hobbs & Shaw project because it offered the opportunity to collaborate with Johnson and Statham, and to bring his action experience to the high-octane Fast & Furious universe. Leitch aims to keep the comedic tension taut throughout the film by keeping Hobbs and Shaw at odds, forcing them to work together and creating comedic tension throughout the whole piece.
The story takes place across various global locations including Los Angeles, London, Chernobyl, and Samoa. Leitch, who worked as a stunt double for Brad Pitt, and later became a stunt coordinator, second unit director, and feature film director, promises an action-packed adventure that will thrill and entertain fans of the franchise.
Since its inception in 2001, the Fast and the Furious franchise has become a global juggernaut, thrilling and entertaining fans with spectacular, groundbreaking action and a family of characters. With Leitch at the helm, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw is poised to continue that tradition.
