Vin Diesel broke down in tears at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival as he reminisced about his late friend and co-star, Paul Walker. Amidst the glare of festival lights, the actor shared a heartfelt and deeply personal reflection, a poignant moment that coincided with the franchise's major milestone at the festival.
As the credits rolled on a special midnight screening of The Fast and the Furious, Vin Diesel's emotions became evident as he recounted his late co-star Paul Walker, whom he affectionately called his brother. It was already a significant moment when Cannes hailed the street racing film as a "classic" 25 years later. However, the on-screen depiction of their bond made the occasion even more poignant.
"I pray that in your life, you can have a brother like Paul," Diesel said, pausing to compose himself before addressing the packed audience in the Grand Lumière Theatre. His co-stars Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez, along with Walker's daughter, Meadow, were also moved to tears as the audience showered them with a four-minute standing ovation.
"It's so hard for me to watch it because there are so many moments in this movie that you see that I see differently," the 58-year-old actor added. "The scene that you see, I see the moment Pablo told me he had a one-year-old daughter."
Diesel concluded his remarks by embracing Meadow Rain Walker in a hug. He also shared something she had told him earlier that day. "She said, 'I'm 27, and I'm watching this film that my father made at 27,' and I thought, 'How profound,'" the Riddick actor said. "Meadow has been such a source of strength, and I know he'd be so proud of you."
As reported by Variety, the late-night screening ended on an emotional note. Diesel hit the red carpet at the Palais des Festivals at 11:55 p.m., engaging the Croisette crowd in a diamond-studded blazer embroidered with "Fast Forever" to mark the franchise's end.
