Ever since he was introduced to the Fast and Furious universe, Jason Statham’s Deckard Shaw has gone from a stone cold villain to a likable teammate to fellow Fast hero, Dwayne Johnson’s Luke Hobbs. But of course, with the world itching to get some “Justice For Han,” there are those that still question if Shaw should even be allowed to play with the good guys.
Jason Statham himself doesn’t question it though, and that was made exceedingly clear during CinemaBlend’s sit-down with him during the London press junket for Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. As you’ll see below, the once perceived heavy of the Fast & Furious series is a much different character when you see him from the following angle:
It’s to be expected that the Fast & Furious fans reading this are still not buying how Deckard Shaw could be anything but a villain, especially after his murder of Sung Kang’s Han Lue in the post-credits sequence to Fast & Furious 6. Sure, on first glance that incident would set up Deckard as the antagonist for director James Wan’s Furious 7, but that was only because we saw those events from the perspective of Vin Diesel's Dominic Toretto and his family.
The main thing that folks seem to forget about Deckard Shaw, and the big thing that both Hobbs & Shaw and The Fate of The Furious help reinforce, is the fact that he's basically acting upon the same code of morals in order to avenge his brother. Deckard’s attack on Han was all about Owen (Luke Evans) and the coma he was put into at the end of Fast & Furious 6.
Hobbs & Shaw plays that aspect up more, particularly through the central team-up that the film is named after, as well as the addition of a new member of the Shaw family, Vanessa Kirby’s Hattie. Though it’s to be expected that in some way, or some form, Deckard will answer for his actions at some point, as even co-writer/producer Chris Morgan has repeatedly addressed that the “Justice For Han” fans will get their day in franchise court.
Even Jason Statham's character knows it, as part of the reason he engages in such heroics is to atone for what he's done in the past. After all of his heroic acts, especially that of saving Dom’s baby from the clutches of Charlize Theron’s Ciper in The Fate of the Furious, you’d think that Deckard Shaw might have earned himself a reprieve. But until those exact circumstances surrounding Han’s death are spelled out, it feels like that pass is never going to be granted by the fandom at large.
Though, at the very least, can we all agree that Deckard Shaw just might be an anti-hero rather than a straight up baddie? The man’s earned himself that much after helping save the world twice.
Judge for yourself, dear readers, as you’ll see both Hobbs & Shaw start their road to expanding the Fast & Furious universe in early showings tomorrow night. And keep it tuned to CinemaBlend, as we’ll have continuing coverage from our interviews with the people who made it happen. In the meantime, if you’re interested, read what the critics are saying about the film in the run up to its general release!
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