Ever since Fast Five, The Rock has been talking about a possible Luke Hobbs spinoff. It finally came true when pairing Hobbs with Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) in The Fate of the Furious proved insanely fun chemistry. So the spinoff is now Hobbs and Shaw, perhaps a tentative title at first, but director David Leitch says it’s likely to stick.
“I don’t know, I think we’re so early days right now and I kind of like it as a title,” Leitch said while promoting his latest, Deadpool 2. “I mean, John Wick, that worked. The names work. I like the name Hobbs and Shaw.”
The Fast and the Furious is very much about the ensemble. As Dom (Vin Diesel) says, they’re family. The Hobbs and Shaw spinoff is a chance to focus on the the unique styles of Dwayne Johnson and Statham.
“I think that’s correctly put,” Leitch said. “I really do want it to be about these guys. Every scene in the movie will be about defining their character and also where they’re going to be defining their character and defining their world. Defining their fighting styles will just be one element of that.”
Co-directing John Wick with his partner Chad Stahelski launched Leitch’s directing career. The duo are producing the Starz series The Continental, set in the world of John Wick. When I asked if they might introduce The Continental character in John Wick 3 it sounds like I was onto something.
“Ooh, well, very, very interesting question,” Leitch teased. “I’m going to leave you with that. That’s an interesting idea.”
On his own, Leitch directed Atomic Blonde and Deadpool 2, all films taking advantage of his background as a second unit director and stuntman.
“I think that’s why I was so excited about Deadpool or one of the reasons,” Leitch said. “Adding the comedic element and getting to spread my wings and exercise different muscles as a director. I hope I’ve made some good choices, choices that spoke to me. Revenge thriller/action, then sort of a neo noir/action so now there’s action/comedy/comic book. Maybe there’s Sundance action, I don’t know. Who knows what’s next but I’m really looking forward to Hobbs and Shaw and digging in.”
Hobbs and Shaw will be in theaters July 26, 2019.
