We’ve learned Dwayne Johnson will star in The Vanguard, which will be directed by fellow Fast & Furious alum Justin Lin.
The Rock may be done working with Vin Diesel, but that doesn’t mean he’s left all his fellow Fast & Furious alum behind. Our trusted and proven sources tell us that Dwayne Johnson will once again work with Fast & Furious franchise director Justin Lin for the upcoming sci-fi action blockbuster The Vanguard. Sony will produce the film, in which Johnson will play a soldier leading a team of elite fighters trying to stop an alien invasion.
It seems fitting, and probably not an accident, that Dwayne Johnson and Justin Lin find themselves working together again on The Vanguard. Vin Diesel helped turn The Rock’s refusal to return for this year’s Fast X into a veritable scandal, while Lin famously walked away from the penultimate film in the Fast and Furious series reportedly because of the difficulties of working with Diesel. If nothing else, their shared frustrations with Dom Toretto should give them plenty to chat about while the cameras aren’t rolling.
So far, most of Justin Lin’s features have been more of the earthbound nature but this won’t be the first time the filmmaker has helmed something involving humans clashing with aliens. In fact, Lin directed what is so far the very last movie of the Star Trek film series, 2016’s Star Trek Beyond. Judging by its impressive scores on Rotten Tomatoes, the film was liked well enough by both critics and audiences, but its disappointing box office returns has nevertheless helped keep the Trek film franchise dormant ever since.
Karl Urban, Zachary Quinto, and Chris Pine in Star Trek Beyond (2016)
Dwayne Johnson has a bit more science fiction big screen experience under his belt than Lin and, believe it or not, like the Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift director, he’s a Star Trek alum. One of The Rock’s earliest non-wrestling television appearances was in the Season 6 Star Trek: Voyager episode “Tsunkatse” in which he plays an alien gladiator who battles and defeats Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan). As a nod to his wrestling fans, Johnson begins the scene with his trademark eyebrow raise.
Dwayne Johnson as The Champion in “Tsunkatse”
Dwayne Johnson and Justin Lin first collaborated on 2011’s Fast Five, when The Rock made his debut as Diplomatic Security Service Agent Luke Hobbs. Johnson reprised the role, now acting as an ally to Toretto’s “family” in 2013’s Fast & Furious 6. He made one more appearance as Hobbs in 2017’s Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, though this time it was David Leitch (Deadpool 2) behind the camera.
We don’t yet have information on production or release dates for The Vanguard, or on what other stars might join Dwayne Johnson in the film. But as soon as we know, we’ll make sure you know.
Source: giantfreakinrobot.com
