In April it was reported that John Cena was being eyed for a role in James Gunn's The Suicide Squad. Now, the former 16-time WWE Champion is adding to his increasingly impressive resume by joining the cast of Fast & Furious 9.
According to Deadline, Universal has confirmed the news of Cena's addition, but will not be releasing any information about his character, saying only that he plays "a badass." Dwayne Johnson, who joined the franchise eight years ago in Justin Lin's Fast Five, is unlikely to return for the ninth installment.
For nearly 20 years, the Fast Franchise has entertained fans and created some of the biggest cinematic moments in history. It’s an incredible honor to join this franchise and this family. https://t.co/7GFzDsX8sl
— John Cena (@JohnCena) June 7, 2019
What started as a simple story about family and racing has turned into a globetrotting adventure series that has seen its last two entries gross over one billion dollars internationally. Though a spin-off from the main saga, Hobbs & Shaw, which opens on August 2nd, is poised for a strong box office run with current estimates projecting it to take in between $75 - 115 million domestically on its opening weekend.
Production on Fast & Furious 9 is scheduled to begin later this month. The release date is currently set for May 22, 2020. Lin is returning to direct for the fifth time, as he previously helmed The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Fast & Furious, Fast Five, and Fast & Furious 6. Diesel is producing through his One Race Films and Lin for Perfect Storm Entertainment.
