Vin Diesel burst into tears as the credits rolled for the late-night special screening of “Fast and Furious” at the Cannes Film Festival.
It was enough for the festival to consider this steamy street racing film a “classic” for the first time in 25 years. But seeing her bond with her late co-star Paul Walker played out on the big screen made the feeling even more intense.
“I hope you have a brother like Paul in your life,” Diesel said after taking a moment to compose himself before addressing a sold-out crowd inside the Grand Lumière Theater.
Of course, Diesel wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Fellow “Fast” stars Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez, as well as Walker’s 27-year-old daughter Meadow, all wiped away tears as the well-heeled audience gave them a four-minute standing ovation.
“There are so many moments in this movie where I see it differently than you see it, so it’s very hard to watch,” Diesel added. “What you see is the moment Pablo told me he had a one-year-old daughter.”
Diesel concluded his tearful remarks by sharing what Meadow had said to him earlier in the day as he pulled Meadow into a hug. “She said, ‘I’m 27 years old and I’m watching this movie that my dad made when he was 27,’ and I thought, ‘How profound,'” Diesel said. “Meadow has been such a source of strength. I’m sure he’s very proud of you.”
It was a touching conclusion to a memorable late-night screening. At 11:55 p.m., Diesel got out of his car and walked to the famous red carpet at the Palais des Festivals. Wearing a diamond-encrusted blazer with the Fast Forever logo embroidered on the back, marking the end of the long-running series, the actor performed for a crowd on the Croisette before staff headed inside the packed theater.
Before the screening began, Diesel took the microphone to show Cannes director Thierry Frémaux some love. “Thierry, where did you get everyone from?” Diesel joked. “I’ve never seen a midnight screening like this in my life. Thierry, it’s not like this movie hasn’t been out for a while.”
Diesel explained that being selected to screen at Cannes was especially emotional. “(Thierry) said to me during my lunch break today, and I’ll never forget it. You said to me, ‘Vin, you came here 31 years ago as a director, writer and actor in a short film (1995’s ‘Multi-Facial’). When you were carrying a laundry bag as a suitcase, no one in the world knew you.” You said, “The reason you’re here now is special, in my heart, is because you, Vin, were born in Cannes.”
The audience was very warm towards Diesel, with many shouts of “I love you” from the audience as well as loud applause and laughter. With self-deprecating humor, Diesel admitted that he almost overstayed his welcome at the microphone, joking, “Because it was already almost 12:30 a.m. at this point,” and joking, “Fuck the movies. You’re only here once in your life.”
He also gave a special shout out to Meadow, who attended the screening in honor of his father. “This is the movie that me and my brother Pablo brought brotherhood into our millennium,” Diesel continued. “And it is Meadow Walker who did not allow me to come here alone to represent that brotherhood.
Diesel then turned his attention to fans of the series. “I’m going to shed a tear soon, but I want you all to know that the only reason we’re making a ‘Fast’ finale in 2028 is because of each and every one of you who gave us your heart and your loyalty,” he said. “We must continue because of each and every one of you who have made us feel as if we were part of our family. Your presence makes us proud of all of you. What we see tonight is the beginning of a word, and that word is love. I love you all.”
Released on June 22, 2001, “Fast and Furious” launched Universal Pictures’ longest-running and most profitable film franchise. The series spans 11 feature films (10 “Fast” films and the spin-off “Hobbs & Shaw”) and has grossed more than $7 billion worldwide. The 2001 film, directed by Rob Cohen and co-written by David Ayer, was a box office hit. Grossing $207 million worldwide on a $38 million budget, 2023’s Fast
The expected final “Fast” movie, titled “Fast Forever,” is expected to conclude the quarter-century story of Diesel Dominic Toretto and his crew of street racers turned government assets. Variety reported in March that Michael Leslie was attached to the film as a screenwriter, and director Louis Leterrier was set to return after joining the Fast X series. Universal announced the movie’s theatrical release date as March 17, 2028.
“25 years. 8 directors. Countless writers, crew, and cast, each giving authenticity to a story that has outlasted trends, cynicism, and time itself,” Diesel wrote on Instagram at the time. “It doesn’t happen by accident…it happens because people show up and put themselves into something bigger than the individual.”
