Each new development in the Fast and Furious feud is somehow more delightful and absurd than the last. First there was the highly-publicized beef between Dwayne Johnson and Vin “Candyass” Diesel. Then Tyrese Gibson got involved when it was announced that Johnson is headlining a spinoff. That quickly escalated when Universal pushed back the release of Furious 9 to make room for the spinoff, and now, a few irate Instagram posts later, here we are: Tyrese Gibson is threatening to quit the Fast fam if Dwayne Johnson returns for the ninth movie.
This Fast and Furious family feud has become so wacky and convoluted that it could easily serve as the plot for the next Fast and Furious movie. If you haven’t been paying attention, here’s a quick recap: After some highly-publicized beef with Vin Diesel on the set of The Fate of the Furious, Dwayne Johnson struck a deal with Universal for his very own spinoff with Jason Statham. Last week, the studio pushed the release of Fast 9 back from 2019 to 2020, and subsequently scheduled Johnson’s spinoff for…2019. Tyrese Gibson dragged Johnson on Instagram. Then Diesel chimed in with a post about staying positive. Grab your popcorn, fam, because Johnson just responded.
Just yesterday, Universal pushed the release date for Fast and Furious 9 (or whatever they end up calling this one) back a whole year from 2019 to 2020. The move led many to suspect it might have something to do with the upcoming spinoff, which focuses on Dwayne Johnson’s Hobbs and was announced in the wake of some highly-publicized drama between Johnson and co-star Vin Diesel on the set of Fate of the Furious. Fellow #Family member Tyrese Gibson has been pretty vocal about the whole thing on social media, going as far as to beg Johnson to reconsider his spinoff plans. But following the Fast 9 release date change, Gibson has shifted from begging to downright dragging.
Tyrese Gibson has taken to posting (and the deleting) pleas on social media for Dwayne Johnson not to leave the Fast and Furious franchise like a lovestruck ex. At least, that’s what everyone figures is going on, because there is clearly something going on between the two. Tyrese Gibson has been commenting and the deleting messages to The Rock on his Instagram posts, and today posted an Instagram himself, along with a plea for Johnson to call him back.
Furious 7 almost certainly won’t be the last Fast & Furious movie. But at times it feels like a series finale. There are numerous callbacks and homages to the franchise’s entire 15-year history. The setpieces are bigger and crazier than ever; it’s hard to imagine anyone topping them. And before the chases really get rolling, the mood is often downright mournful. Two different scenes are set in graveyards, and characters talk about taking “one last ride” together.