Hobbs & Shaw links to THIS controversial Fast & Furious death – Did you spot it?

The long-awaited spin-off has finally hit cinemas. It is just as fun and over the top as expected, but still finds time to address some more serious topis. Topics which are close to fans’ hearts. This may be the start of a potential standalone franchise, but it is still tied closely to the parent Fast and Furious series. Jason Statham’s Deckard Shaw has always been a divisive figure. Despite being built into a loveable rogue, many fans still see him as a villain and they may never forgive him for the death of another beloved character. WARNING: MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD.

Back in 2006’s fourth Fast film Tokyo Drift, a new character was introduced, Sung Kang’s Han Lue. He was a hit with fans but was killed in his debut outing in a car collision at the end.

The producers used some timeline trickery to bring him back, by setting the next two films before Tokyo Drift. Han starred in 2009’s Fast And Furious, Fast Five and the sequel Fast & Furious 6 brought the storylines back up to date and said goodbye again to Han, revealing his killer in the process.

It was none other than Deckard Shaw who was driving the car which killed Han. Many fans struggle with Shaw’s transformation into a lovable anti-hero. Even those who do love him feel he must still pay for Han’s death. They demand “justice for Han.”

And the new film addresses that head-on.

Towards the end, Deckard has a heart to heart with his estranged sister, Vanessa Kirby’s Hattie.

The screenwriter, Chris Morgan, told Entertainment Weekly: “I love ‘justice for Han.’ Sung Kang is a great friend, and Han is a character that I adore. I would say that the super-arc for Deckard Shaw is going to be one of the most interesting, cool, rewarding character arcs in the franchise. Justice for Han is owed. It’s something we have discussed for a very long time and want to give the right due to. I think the audience will be satisfied and should know it’s coming. There’s a line in Hobbs & Shaw that is right before the battle in Samoa where Shaw says to his sister, ‘There’s things I’ve done that I have to make amends for.’ That line was specifically written and put in there just to let everyone know that he is talking about Han — it is on his mind. It tortures him, and he’s going to get to it.”

Not only is this tantalising news for fans, it speaks to the creators’ confidence this spin-off will develop into a series.

Hobbs and Shaw are both absent from the upcoming Fast and Furious 9, due to hit cinemas in May 2020, with a tenth film in the main franchise scheduled for April 2021.

Whether Shaw meets his justice in that tenth film, or a future Hobbs & Shaw spin-off remains to be seen.