Vin Diesel Tears Up at Fast and Furious Cannes Event: “This Team is My Family”

No, Cannes is not just for niche arthouse films, and the Festival reminds us of this every year. While not placing candidates like Shrek and its sequel in Competition, it regularly invites blockbusters that many wouldn’t associate with the Croisette, including the Fast & Furious saga: in 2021, the ninth installment drifted into the Cinema de la Plage on the eve of its national release, celebrating the saga’s twenty years in grand style.

Five years later, as the franchise neared its quarter-century milestone, Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Meadow Walker (daughter of the late Paul), and producer Neal H. Moritz made a splash with a restored version of the first film, the one that started it all in 2001, screened during a fiery and moving Midnight Session.

“This team is my family,” declared Vin Diesel, microphone in hand, after the screening of Fast & Furious, paying tribute to Paul Walker. “And if I had something to say to each of you, it’s that Meadow has always been my strength, and I know he would be proud of you… And I love you forever.” This was met with a round of applause. “I cried like a damn… Lord! Why am I crying?”

There’s no doubt there will be more emotion on March 15, 2028, when Fast Forever, the eleventh and final installment of the franchise, is released.

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