The Rock in Fast Five?

• READ: [Collider] Might Dwayne Johnson Get Fast and/or Furious With Vin Diesel and Paul Walker in FAST FIVE?

With a summer 2011 release date, the fifth entry in the Fast and the Furious franchise is revving up the engine under the moniker Fast Five: indeed, the series lost its fury, but it may have gained a Dwayne Johnson.  Deadline reports that Johnson (née The Rock) is in talks with the folks over at Universal about starring alongside Vin Diesel and Paul Walker in the sequel; his character would be “on the right side of the law.” (I think that’s code for “policeman”.)

Johnson will be seen this November as a character named “Driver” in the action-drama Faster (read Steve’s set report here), which is perhaps indicative of his gearhead mindset at the moment.  It’s not often the fifth film in a once fledgling franchise lures in such star power.  But the 2009 Fast and Furious did rev things up again by bringing back Diesel and Walker to the prosperous tune of $353 million worldwide.  If Johnson is looking to get back into action flicks after his career detour in such family fare as The Tooth Fairy, it may make sense to get on board with Five, a known high-octane commodity.  Let’s wait and see if this signing comes to pass.