Despite its somewhat humble beginnings back in 2001, The Fast and the Furious franchise as quickly become one of the biggest action franchises in the world. Each new installment makes a ton of money at the box office, and the most recent installments have all been critically acclaimed as well. As such, it stands to reason that Universal would want to cash in and produce a spinoff for the property.

Enter Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, which is a starring vehicle for The Rock’s signature character– pairing him up with action legend Jason Statham as Deckward Shaw. The duo will come to blows with newcomer Idris Elba, playing terrorist leader Brixton. Now we’ve got our first look at the film’s villain, and Elba looks practically superpowered. Check it out.

Does anyone else have chills? Idris Elba clearly means business as Brixton, shown rocking armor, weapons, and a badass motorcycle. He’s not somebody to be messed with, but what is exactly is his evil plan?

This first look at Idris Elba in Hobbs & Shaw will no doubt excite fans of the franchise, as well as Marvel fans who never got enough of the actor in the Thor franchise. Elba’s starpower has been steadily growing over the past few years, even being named the Sexiest Man Alive for 2018. So putting him in an epic action franchise and pairing the actor up with The Rock and Jason Statham is enough to get any self-respecting action junky excited.

Seeing Idris Elba suited up as Brixton will no doubt bring more life to all of the James Bond rumors and fan casting. With Daniel Craig approaching his final run at 007 with Bond 25, the time has come to look to a replacement, and the next actor who will be rocking the tux and martini. Idris Elba has been one of the most popular choices by the fandom, with the actor constantly shutting down rumors of talks with the Jame Bond franchise. Still, Hobbs & Shaw isn’t helping the case, as he seems all the more appropriate to play the beloved British spy.

Hobbs & Shaw is breaking new ground for the Fast and the Furious franchise. Despite the property being around for 18 years, David Leitch’s blockbuster will mark the first spinoff, separate from the narrative of the other movies. If the project does well (and really, how could it not?), we may see more standalone movies being produced alongside the main installments. The Rock has previously expressed his interest in an all-female movie, which is reportedly in development now.

Of course, there has been some drama surrounding Hobbs & Shaw, especially when it comes to Fast and the Furious star Tyrese Gibson. Gibson took umbrage with the spinoff being produced, as he claims it was slowing down production on Fast & Furious 9. This resulted in months of online fighting between he and The Rock. And the fans followed closely as two members of The Family dueled in a public fashion.

That being said, the fandom doesn’t seem to share Tyrese Gibson’s concern, as anticipation has been steadily building for Hobbs & Shaw since it was announced. The two made great frenemies in The Fate of the Furious, and audiences seemed to respond to their pairing in the most recent sequel. Now they’ll have the time to take the spotlight, alongside Idris Elba and Vanessa Kirby.

Hobbs & Shaw will arrive in theaters on August 2nd, 2019. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Source AFP