Vin Diesel was moved as he paid tribute to Paul Walker during a special anniversary screening of Fast & Furious at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
The screening celebrated the 25th anniversary of the franchise’s first film and brought together members of the original cast, including Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster, as well as Meadow Walker, daughter of Paul Walker, who died in 2013 in a car accident.
During the event, Diesel was brought to tears while speaking about the bond he built with Walker throughout the franchise. “I pray that you have a brother like Paul,” the actor told the audience in Cannes.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Diesel also noted that Meadow Walker is now the same age Paul was when he starred in the first Fast & Furious film in 2001. The actor praised his friend’s daughter and said Walker “would be very proud of her.”
The most symbolic moment of the night took place on the red carpet, when Diesel embraced Meadow in front of photographers. The actor is the young woman’s godfather and has maintained a close relationship with Walker’s family since the star’s death.
The midnight screening received long applause from the audience and marked one of the most emotional tributes of this edition of the Cannes Film Festival. The Fast & Furious franchise is expected to conclude with a final film in April 2027.
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Photo and video: Creative Commons / YouTube @TVFestivaldeCannes. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
