Fast & Furious Spin-Off Hobbs & Shaw: The Rock And Jason Statham Get Ready In New Image

The next Fast & Furious movie isn't scheduled to be released until 2020, but fans of the series won't have to wait that long for the next entry in that universe. Hobbs & Shaw is a spin-off focusing on the characters played by Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham and it arrives in August next year. A first official image has now been released.

The picture comes via Entertainment Weekly. In it, former federal Agent Luke Hobbs (Johnson) and mercenary-for-hire Owen Shaw (Statham) are facing down some adversaries in what looks like a warehouse, armed only with bits of wood. Check it out below:

This image follows some earlier behind-the-scenes shots that Johnson posted on Instagram. Hobbs & Shaw is directed by Deadpool 2's David Leitch and also stars Idris Elba as the movie's main villain, plus Mission Impossible: Fallout's Vanessa Kirby. It releases on August 2, 2019.

In an interview with EW, Johnson spoke about what will set Hobbs & Shaw apart from the insane, over-the-top action of the main Fast & Furious movies. "The main thing that we can do and focus on is how can we evolve," he said. "So instead of thinking of whatever the biggest explosions are with the biggest vehicles and let's drop them from the moon, this is where finding the perfect director comes in with a very unique point of view and perspective, and someone who understands not only action but understands stylistic action mixed in with story and character."

"David Leitch just did the new Deadpool and John Wick and Atomic Blonde," Johnson continued. "So you can see the stylistic approach that he has, and he really just stepped up to the plate and took great ownership of this spin-off. He's really been delivering, and if his past movies are an example of what he's been doing, wait until you see this one."

In terms of the main series, the currently untitled Fast & Furious 9 is currently scheduled for an April 2020 release. The decision to delay the movie by a year to make way for Hobbs & Shaw caused some controversy last year, when co-star Tyreese suggested that if Johnson were to appear, he would not. This follows the reported on-set feud between Johnson and star/producer Vin Diesel during the production of 2017's The Fate of the Furious.