The Fast & Furious franchise has entertained audiences for two decades. The action-packed saga culminated its tenth installment this year. Now streaming giant Netflix has just added one of the most iconic movies of the saga to its catalog and it is racing up the charts! The fifth film in the franchise was a game-changer. Not only did it turn the course of the franchise but also marked the debut of Dwayne Johnson’s role.

It might surprise fans of the franchise to know that The Rock played a very crucial role in breathing life into a rusting machine. The star went on to revive the saga in a very subtle way.

Dwayne Johnson paved the way for future movies in this popular franchise

In Fast Five, Dwayne Johnson made his debut as Luke Hobbs, a charismatic agent who would go on to become a crucial ally and friend to Dominic Toretto and his crew. Johnson’s arrival in the cast marked a turning point for the series. The franchise had been experiencing a decline in both box office numbers and critical reception prior to his involvement. The Rock’s character Hobbs brought an energy and dynamic to the story of transitioning from an antagonist to becoming an ally.

The impact of Johnson’s role in Fast Five extended beyond saving the face of the Fast saga. It set the stage for the next movies as well. The movie itself achieved success, earning over $626 million worldwide and receiving praise from both critics and fans. Additionally, it marked a shift in tone and genre for the franchise, moving away from its focus on street racing themes to emphasizing heist elements and thrilling action sequences that would come to define subsequent installments. Now, Fast Five is streaming and racing up the charts on Netflix.

Johnson continued to portray Hobbs in four Fast & Furious films, including the spin-off Hobbs & Shaw which expanded the universe by introducing new characters. However, an unexpected feud with lead Vin Diesel marked his brief departure.

After a massively publicized feud, The Rock returns to the Fast franchise

The conflict between Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel originated during the production of The Fate of the Furious, the eighth installment in the series. Johnson shared a message on social media expressing his frustration with some male co-stars’ lack of professionalism and disrespect. Although he didn’t explicitly mention any names, it was widely believed to be aimed at Diesel, who is also a producer for the franchise. The tension escalated when Johnson and Jason Statham received their spin-off film, Hobbs & Shaw, which upset certain members of the original cast. As a result, Diesel and Johnson haven’t appeared in each other’s movies since then.

Meanwhile, Johnson went on to try his luck at superhero movies. However, there was reconciliation last year, when Diesel took to Instagram to write an open letter inviting Johnson to return for Fast X and fulfill his role as Hobbs. In his post, Diesel mentioned that his children still refer to Johnson as “Uncle Dwayne” and emphasized his commitment to honoring Paul Walker’s legacy by giving the franchise a worthy conclusion. Alas, The Rock did return in an end-credits scene of Fast X and shall serve until its climactic run.

Are you catching Fast Five on Netflix anytime soon? What are your thoughts on the Fast franchise? Let us know in the comments below.