It’s hard to imagine Fast & Furious films without The Rock in them.
The role of Hobbs in the petrol-head franchise seemed like it was made for Dwayne Johnson.
The muscle-bound WWE star absolutely owned the role when he first appeared as the character in Fast Five.
But it turns out he wasn’t even supposed to be in the film.
Vin Diesel admitted in a Facebook Live interview that The Rock wasn’t even considered for the part.
Diesel had another man lined up to play Hobbs and that was Men in Black star Tommy Lee Jones.
He explained: “Back in the fifth film, I was asking ‘Who should I work with?’ The reason why we brought Dwayne Johnson into Fast Five was because of you.
“There was a girl named Jen (maybe, Jan?) Kelly who said, ‘I would love to see you guys work together on-screen.’ And so, we gave a role that was initially written for Tommy Lee Jones but we gave it to Dwayne, and he shined in it.”
It’s hard to imagine TLJ in that role and we’re glad they did cast The Rock instead – and we bet Vin Diesel is too, now that the wrestler is the high-paid actor and hottest property in Hollywood.
It seems like high praise indeed about The Rock coming for Vin Diesel as the pair apparently were embroiled in a feud as Fast 8 rapped up.
The Rock had taken to his Facebook to take a cryptic swipe at his co-star with the following dig:
“Some conduct themselves as stand up men and true professionals, while others don’t.
“The ones that don’t are too chicken shit to do anything about it anyway. Candy asses.
“When you watch this movie next April and it seems like I’m not acting in some of these scenes and my blood is legit boiling – you’re right.”
If tensions were running high during the final days of filming, it looks like a good old-fashioned man-to-man chat between the pair straightened things out and cleared the air.
Afterwards, the Rock spoke with a far more magnanimous tone with this Instagram post about his part in Furious 8.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BI8ZYHgj6Iv/
Vin Diesel said he was going to reveal all about what the hell went on…we’re still waiting, mate.
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