Fast & Furious 11 will conclude the franchise’s main films, and no matter how ridiculous his return would be, the film requires John Cena. The franchise began in 2001, and while Fast & Furious will continue with the Hobbs spinoff and other potential projects, the upcoming film will conclude the main saga after more than two decades of films. As a result, the film must include John Cena, but his character’s fate in Fast X suggests that the star will not appear in Fast & Furious 11.
John Cena first appeared as F9’s antagonist, Jakob Toretto, but eventually joined Dom’s crew at the end of the film and helped them in Fast X. This continued Fast & Furious’ villain-turned-hero streak and appeared to solidify Cena’s character until the end. However, Fast X appears to have killed Jakob near the end of the film, casting doubt on his eventual return. While Jakob returning from the dead would be ridiculous, Fast & Furious 11 requires him, so the franchise will have to make a difficult decision if they want to bring Cena back for their final installment.
John Cena’s presence is required to make Fast & Furious 11 the franchise’s biggest movie yet
Given that Fast & Furious 11 is shaping up to be the franchise’s biggest film yet, John Cena’s presence is essential to making it as star-studded as possible. Sung Kang returned to the franchise in F9, and with The Rock and Gal Gadot returning for Fast and Furious 11, the franchise is clearly reuniting all of its biggest stars for the final film. The franchise also introduced Brie Larson, Alan Ritchson, and Jason Momoa to the film series in Fast X, indicating that Fast and Furious 11 will feature an all-star cast to bring the saga to a satisfying conclusion.
This means that dropping John Cena at the final hurdle would feel like a waste of potential, as his presence would undoubtedly improve the film. His reputation would help to increase anticipation for Fast & Furious 11 and possibly its box office. Despite grossing $714 million, Fast X was a box office disappointment due to its large budget. While several Fast & Furious films have crossed the $1 billion mark, having Cena appear alongside these big names could help Fast & Furious 11 replicate this success. The final film requires all of its major characters, and leaving out Cena’s Jakob Toretto would be a huge loss.
Why Can John Cena Return to the Franchise Despite It Being Ridiculous?
Although John Cena’s return to the franchise is absurd, Fast & Furious 11 can still pull it off. Several Fast & Furious characters have been rumored to have died and then returned. Han, Gisele, and Letty have all survived seemingly fatal incidents, only to appear in a subsequent film. While this trend may be problematic for some franchises, Fast & Furious frequently embraces its over-the-top, extravagant nature, so these returns worked despite their ridiculousness. The film series’ track record suggests that, despite Jakob Toretto’s difficult situation, the character’s fate is not necessarily sealed.
Given the history of Fast & Furious, Jakob Toretto’s survival would not be particularly surprising, but it would provide the film with a significant moment and give Jakob extra motivation to help his brother. Cena’s talent for both action and comedy makes him an ideal fit for the franchise, and his return scene could be both emotional and hilarious. It may be a tired trope for the action series, but having a character return from the dead for one final time would be worthwhile to ensure John Cena’s inclusion in Fast & Furious 11.