Dwayne Johnson’s Fast and Furious Spinoff Almost Cast Marvel Star David Tennant as Owen Shaw, Prior to Jason Statham’s Betrayal
In 2019, Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham, both well-known antagonists in The Fast and The Furious franchise, joined forces to star in the spin-off film Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw. The movie centered around their characters, Luke Hobbs and Deckard Shaw, a US agent and a British mercenary who are compelled to set aside their rivalry and collaborate to stop a genetically enhanced supervillain.
Before Jason Statham was cast as Deckard Shaw in The Fast and the Furious 6, he was initially being considered for the role of his younger brother, Owen Shaw, a former SAS agent turned mercenary. Ultimately, the part was given to actor Luke Evans. However, Statham wasn’t the only contender for the role. Another prominent actor from the Marvel universe was also in the running for the coveted part.
David Tennant, widely recognized for his portrayal of the character Dr. Who and his role as Barty Crouch Jr. in the Harry Potter films, was also in contention to play the antagonist in The Fast and the Furious franchise. Tennant, who had previously starred as Kilgrave in the Marvel series Jessica Jones, was reportedly shortlisted for the role, competing directly with Jason Statham.
According to sources, Statham was initially in discussions to portray Owen Shaw in The Fast and the Furious 6. However, the role ultimately went to Luke Evans, while Statham was given the opportunity to portray Deckard Shaw, the brother of Owen Shaw, who appears at the end of the 6th installment. As for David Tennant, it remains unclear why he was not ultimately considered for the role of Owen Shaw despite being in the mix.
Meanwhile, Jason Statham is set to lead the cast in The Expendables 4, alongside his iconic group of action colleagues. The film, scheduled for release in September 2023, marks a significant role for Statham, with Sylvester Stallone confirming that he will be stepping down from the franchise after this installment.
This passing of the torch to Statham suggests a potential shift in the narrative, as Statham’s character, Lee Christmas, takes on a leadership role, offering new possibilities for character development in future films.
The Expendables 4 is slated for a worldwide release on September 22nd, 2023.
