CANNES — Vin Diesel led a heartfelt tribute alongside co-stars Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster at the Cannes Film Festival to mark the 25th anniversary of the original "Fast and the Furious" film. The reunion took place during a midnight screening of the 2001 street-racing blockbuster, which Cannes artistic director Thierry Fremaux praised as a “classic.”

Diesel, visibly emotional, paid homage to the late Paul Walker, a central figure in the franchise who died in a car accident in 2013. Walker’s presence was symbolically represented by his daughter, actress and model Meadow Rain Walker, who shared a poignant embrace with Diesel on the red carpet. Inside the packed main auditorium, Diesel acknowledged that Meadow Rain was integral to his decision to attend the event. “The person who was not going to let me come alone here, to represent that brotherhood, was Meadow Rain,” he said, adding, “I'm going to go shed a tear real quick.”

The "Fast and Furious" franchise, which now includes 11 films and has grossed over $7 billion worldwide, is scheduled to conclude with “Fast Forever,” set for release in 2028. Diesel, 58, expressed surprise and gratitude at Fremaux’s recognition of the series, which has been traditionally associated with high-octane action rather than traditional festival fare. Fremaux described the franchise as having “left an enormous mark on the history of cinema,” and called the original film a classic. Diesel remarked on the significance of such praise coming from the head of one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals, saying, “how profound is that?”

This tribute came amid an unusual year for Cannes, which faces the absence of major Hollywood premieres from its 2026 lineup. Leading studios including Disney, Sony, Warner Bros., and prominent streaming platforms Netflix and Amazon have all declined to debut films at the festival. Fremaux, who has prioritized securing American films during his two decades at Cannes, described the situation as a challenge for the event, which traditionally relies on high-profile Hollywood launches to complement its focus on independent and auteur cinema.

Industry observers attribute the studios’ retreat from Cannes to cost-cutting measures, a growing preference for tightly controlled social media campaigns to market films, and concerns over potential negative critical reception at the festival affecting commercial prospects. In this context, Universal’s late addition of “The Fast and the Furious” screening represented a rare Hollywood presence.

In addition to the film series, Diesel recently announced that Universal is developing a television adaptation of "The Fast and the Furious" concept, though he did not provide a timeline for its release.