Vin Diesel delivered an emotional tribute to Paul Walker at a special Cannes screening of The Fast and the Furious, telling the audience that watching the film was “so hard” because of the memories attached to his late co-star.
Speaking after the movie’s midnight screening at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday night, Diesel fought back tears as he reflected on his relationship with Walker, who died in a car crash in 2013 at the age of 40.
“It’s so hard for me to watch it because there’s so many moments in this movie that you see, that I see differently,” Diesel told the audience inside the Grand Lumière theatre, according to Variety.
“The scene that you see, I see the moment Pablo told me he had a one-year-old daughter.”
Diesel has long referred to Walker by the nickname “Pablo”.
The screening was organised to mark the 25th anniversary of the original Fast & Furious film, which was released in June 2001 and went on to launch one of Hollywood’s most commercially successful action franchises.
The series has since expanded to 11 feature films, including the spin-off Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, and has gone on to make more than $7bn (£5.17bn) at the global box office.
Diesel paused several times during his speech to compose himself as he spoke about Walker and Walker’s daughter, Meadow Walker, who attended the screening alongside franchise stars Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster.
Meadow Walker also appeared briefly in Fast X, the franchise’s most recent instalment.
“This is a film where brotherhood was introduced to our millennium, by myself and my brother Pablo,” Diesel told the audience. “And the person that was not going to let me come alone here to represent that brotherhood is Meadow Walker.”
He added: “I pray that in your life, you can have a brother like Paul.”
Before the screening began, Diesel joked about the size of the crowd gathered for the late-night event. Addressing Cannes director Thierry Frémaux, he said: “Thierry, where did you get everyone? I’ve never seen a midnight screening like this in my whole life. Thierry, it’s not like this movie hasn’t been out for a minute.”
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According to The Hollywood Reporter, the screening was among the festival’s most sought-after tickets this year, with the Croisette packed shortly before midnight.
Diesel arrived wearing a rhinestone-covered blazer embroidered with the words “Fast Forever”, the title of the franchise’s planned final instalment, which Universal is scheduled to release on 17 March 2028.
“I just want you all to know, the only reason why we’re making the finale of Fast for 2028 is because of each and every one of you that has given us your hearts and your loyalty,” Diesel said. “Each and every one of you that has felt like you were a part of our family, you make us have to continue.”
The evening ended with Diesel embracing Walker on stage after sharing something she had said earlier in the day.
“She said, ‘I’m 27, and I’m watching this film that my father made at 27,’ and I thought, ‘How profound,’” Diesel said. “Meadow has been such a source of strength, and I know he’d be so proud of you.”
Earlier this week, Diesel revealed that the Fast & Furious franchise was expanding into television, with at least one show being actively developed at Peacock.
