The Rock’s Luke Hobbs has been one ofFast & Furious’most important characters for over a decade, but despite the franchise finding a strong replacement, it may have come too late. Although the blockbuster franchise had a strong introduction, it struggled to find a clear identity after its first movie, butThe Rock helped saveFast & Furiousthanks to his debut inFast Five.The series went all in on its action spectacle and over-the-top stunts that allowedFast Fiveto shine, making it the best entry to date while establishing The Rock’s Hobbs as a central character.
Hobbs first appeared as an antagonist trying to put a stop to Dom and his crew, but the agent eventually switched sides and assisted the protagonists. As a result, Hobbs became a reliable ally over the years, appearing in the next three films as well as his own spinoff alongside Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham). Unfortunately,The Rock and Vin Diesel’s feud impactedFast & Furiousmassively, as Johnson didn’t appear inF9, leading to a notable omission. Fortunately,Fast Xseemed to find the ideal replacement, but there may not be enough time to get the best out of him.
Alan Ritchson’s Aimes Was The Right Replacement For The Rock’s Hobbs
Introducing A New Menacing Agent Played By A Rising Star Was The Perfect Substitute For Hobbs
WhileFast & Furioushas no shortage of big actors,Fast Xcontinued to branch out the cast by introducing Alan Ritchson to the saga. He played Aimes, who became the acting leader of the Agency after Mr. Nobody’s disappearance. Like Hobbs, Aimes has a fairly no-nonsense attitude and is dedicated to his mission, but their views on Dom and his crew don’t align. Although their characters serve different purposes,Ritchson felt like the ideal replacement for The Rock, as he is another physical specimen who has an extremely large presence alongside action chops perfectly suited toFast & Furious.
Ritchson was also a rising star when he was cast, asReacherhelped gain him some mainstream attention beforeFast & Furiousfurther legitimized him. On the other hand, Johnson was more of a household name by the time he joinedFast Five, with his wrestling background making him an established star long before he joined Hollywood. Even though the franchise hasn’t quite got the best out of Aimes yet,Fast Xis still one ofRitchson’s most recognizable movies, meaning the next installment could provide the actor with the perfect opportunity to flesh out his character’s personality and backstory.
The Fast and the Furious
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The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift
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Aimes may not be a like-for-like replacement, but hunting down Dom and his crew is a very similar story to Hobbs' during his first appearance. Additionally, playing a relentless brute with plenty of firepower behind him makes him arguably even more menacing than Hobbs during his first movie, suggesting Ritchson has all the potential to fill the role left by The Rock.
Fast X’s Aimes Was The Opposite Of Fast Five’s Hobbs
Aimes Went From A Seemingly Trustworthy Ally To A Formidable Villain, Flipping Hobbs' Arc
Despite having some major similarities, Hobbs and Aimes have completely opposite roles in the overall story. Whereas Hobbs started as an antagonistic figure who eventually found common ground with Dom’s crew, Aimes was presented as an ally initially, before double-crossing the protagonists. Hobbs was originally tasked with capturing Dom and the franchise’s other heroes, but after seeing them in action and understanding their motivations, the bounty hunter realized they were actually good people and not just ordinary criminals. This resulted in them putting their differences aside, with Hobbs eventually becoming a recurring ally and honorary member of the family.
Fast & Furious 11 Can Finally Bring Back The Real Luke Hobbs After The Rock’s Fast X Return
Fast & Furious 11 needs to bring back the real Luke Hobbs, not the generic Dwayne Johnson character he’s become, after his Fast X return.
In contrast, Aimes had been secretly working with Dante for years, with the two planning on getting revenge for Hernan Reyes' death. Taking over the Agency was all part of a greater goal, as Aimes was a double agent the entire time, and his decision to work with Dante contradicts his supposed hatred towards criminals.Aimes’Fast Xflashback scenealso added a little more depth to his role in Dante’s mission to take down Dom and his crew, outlining his deeper motivations.
While Hobbs was willing to see the error of his ways and put his grudge against Dom’s team behind him, Aimes was committed to fooling the heroes and embraced his villainy inFast X. Therefore, despite their journeys having a slight overlap,Aimes and Hobbs are polar opposites inFast & Furious, even if they do share some similar traits.
Fast 11 Might Not Have Enough Time To Fully Use Aimes As A Villain
Dante Will Still Be The Star Of The Show & There Are Plenty Of Returning Characters To Focus On
The reveal that Aimes was a villain set up a big role going forward, butFast & Furious 11may not get the chance to fully utilize his potential. Despite his seemingly hostile view towards Dom, the two reluctantly agree to work together, only for Aimes to explain it was all a ruse. His run-in with Dante earlier is all part of their master plan, as Aimes reveals he has been working with Dante for an entire decade, shooting down a plane containing Han, Ramsey, Tej, and Roman to cement his point.
Therefore, having him asFast & Furious 11’s secondary villain will add a lot of stakes and jeopardy to the plot, but he is at risk of getting overshadowed. GivenAlan Ritchson was somewhat wasted in hisFast & Furiousdebut, it feels all the more important the next outing does his character justice, but there is so much more going on with the plot. Dante remains the franchise’s main villain andFast X’s entire plot is centered around him, meaning the saga’s final entry is all but guaranteed to do the same.
He may make for a fun secondary antagonist and be involved in some entertaining scenes, but the action series will have a hard time elevating Aimes beyond more than a side plot, which would once again squander Ritchson’s potential.
In addition, some big returns were teased at the end ofFast X, indicating that these characters will also take up plenty of the spotlight. ConsideringFast & Furious 11has to close out over two decades worth of story,it’s unlikely Ritchson will get a massive opportunity to shine since there is so much still to cover. He may make for a fun secondary antagonist and be involved in some entertaining scenes, but the action series will have a hard time elevating Aimes beyond more than a side plot, which would once again squander Ritchson’s potential.
Fast & Furious No Longer Needs A Hobbs Replacement
The Rock & Vin Diesel Making Amends Has Allowed Hobbs To Return
Even ifFast & Furious 11does somehow manage to make Aimes a central part of the plot, a Luke Hobbs replacement is no longer needed.Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson were able to squash their beef, resulting in Hobbs returning duringFast X’s post-credits scenewhile simultaneously setting up a big role in the final movie. As a result, the quick-witted, highly-skilled fighter will be back in action, leaving no real need for anyone to take his place.Fast & Furiouswas already going in a different direction with Aimes anyway, but Hobbs' return may reduce his overall role.
Fast & Furious 11is scheduled to be released in 2026.
Instead of being the film’s biggest physical threat, he may have a showdown with Hobbs instead, which could still be a good use for both characters. Additionally, there is no room for him to become the main villain since Dante is already the final boss and has plenty of history with the main characters. Hopefully,Fast & Furiouscan still find a significant part for Alan Ritchson in the last main movie, but with Hobbs' replacement no longer required, and a central villain already established, it’ll be hard for Aimes to truly stand out among so many developed characters.
