'Hobbs & Shaw' premiere is halted by electrical scare

The premiere of Fast & Furious spin-off Hobbs & Shaw had to be halted due to an electrical incident at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles this weekend.

According to Variety, a number of 'panicked guests' fled the venue after sparks began flying at the front of the theater in the orchestra pit area and then began moving towards a seating block at the front around 30 minutes into the movie.

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The auditorium was not evacuated, but there was reportedly 'widespread confusion' among the attended guests.

The movie's star Dwayne Johnson addressed the crowd after the incident while the incident was being looked into.

He explained that he would remain on hand to keep the audience safe, but joked that 'Jason Statham ran his a** out of here'.

Apparently, the movie then recommenced about 15 minutes later.

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It find Johnson reprising his role as Agent Luke Hobbs and Statham as mercenary Deckard Shaw, who are forced to team up to tackle Idris Elba's Brixton Lore, a genetically enhanced international terrorist leader.

Also on the bill are Helen Mirren as Shaw's mother, Magdalene, and Vanessa Kirkby as Shaw's sister Hattie, an MI6 operative.

It lands in the UK on August 1.