There had been some speculation surrounding Dwayne Johnson's return as Hobbs in Fast and Furious 8, but the actor has put the rumors to rest, confirming that he will indeed be coming back for the sequel to Furious 7.

Paul Walker's Character To Be Replaced By Brother, Cody, In Furious 7 Sequel?

When asked by Collider about his being in the movie, Johnson responded quite enthusiastically. "Of course. It can't go on without Hobbs," he said.

Johnson went on to talk about the possibility of a spin-off relating to his character, a movie with Hobbs as protagonist.

Which Actors Might Be In The Running To Fill Paul Walker's Shoes In Fast and Furious 8?

"We all are interested in it. I just had a big conversation with the studio. So we'll see," he said of the prospect. "I still think for me personally we've created a little bit of space for him in 7 and the gauge is set for what the audience will want. That's my take on it, you know, but a lot of other people have to have input."

Johnson had previously teased his involvement at the MTV Music Awards on the evening of April 12.

"I talked to Vin today - we had a nice discussion - and I think whatever it is, whatever we come up with for 'Furious 8,' we have to raise the bar, in terms of action, yes, but also in terms of story and character," he said.

He also spoke about how the success of Furious 7 was just "bananas," and said he had the best time working on the film.

Fast and Furious 8 will be released on April 15, 2017.

Furious 7 hit theaters on April 3, 2015.

Watch an extended scene featuring some car action here:

Tags: Fast and Furious 8 Dwayne Johnson Movies