Long before Vin Diesel shot to international stardom with the Fast & Furious franchise in 2001, the actor got a bizarre but memorable recruitment call from Steven Spielberg. Following his prolific work in the 1995 short drama Multi-Facial, and the 1997 feature film Strays, the actor surprisingly came under the radar of Hollywood’s most acclaimed filmmaker in 1998.
According to Vin Diesel’s interview with Yahoo Movies, the actor recalled how he was notified by his agent about his role in Steven Spielberg’s 1998 war film Saving Private Ryan. Initially expecting the usual process of audition, Diesel was later informed that Spielberg had specially written a role for him that required no audition.
Steven Spielberg was Adamant About Casting Vin Diesel in Saving Private Ryan
Vin Diesel has certainly been in Hollywood for decades and has starred in a few of the most iconic franchises of all time. But none of these opportunities would have come his way, if not for his shocking collaboration with Steven Spielberg. Well, the story goes somewhat this way, wherein, the acclaimed filmmaker was stunned by Diesel’s work in his 1995 short drama Multi-Facial.
Mirroring his own real-world experience, Vin Diesel directed and starred in Multi-Facial, as a multiethnic actor who struggled to find work due to his appearance. This iconic endeavor was then followed by Diesel writing, directing, and starring in the 1997 feature film Strays. But surprisingly, despite his two initial films, it was his 1995 drama that shockingly caught Steven Spielberg’s attention.
As per Vin Diesel’s interview with Yahoo Movies, after Steven Spielberg watched Multi-Facial, the filmmaker felt the urge to cast the actor in one of his iconic war dramas Saving Private Ryan. Diesel recalled how Spielberg was so stunned by his semi-autobiographical short film, that the director became adamant about casting the star in a special role, specifically written for him.
Vin Diesel Described His Casting in Saving Private Ryan as Bizarre
Although it’s quite common in Hollywood for directors to write specific roles for certain stars, by keeping them in mind, Vin Diesel admitted that it was a shocking experience for him, considering the fact that he was just starting out in the industry. Therefore, reflecting on his initial years in Hollywood, the actor described his association with Steven Spielberg in Saving Private Ryan, as a bizarre recruitment.
Probably, the best was when I got the phone call that Steven Spielberg had written a role for me. That was kind of a bizarre kind of recruitment. I was about six months into this new thought that I wasn’t going to audition anymore. And I refused to have to go wait on cattle calls, and I told my agents, ‘I’m not doing it anymore.’
And I get this call after Sundance, after Strays, after my film was at Sundance in ’97, and it’s my agent, and my agent says, ‘You know, Steven Spielberg just saw Multi-Facial’. I went, ‘What? He saw my short film.’ And I’m jumping, I was living in North Hollywood, and I remember jumping up on my bed, and I had to be careful because I almost hit myself and knocked myself out.
And [my agent] said, ‘No, wait a minute, there’s more. He’s writing a role for you.’ I said, ‘Well, do I have to audition?’ ‘No, he’s writing a role for you because he saw your short film, Multi-Facial.’ That was the most bizarre form of recruitment I’ve ever experienced.
Thereafter, playing Private First Class Adrian Caparzo, who was one of the seven men chosen by Tom Hanks‘ John Miller in Saving Private Ryan, Vin Diesel began noticing a significant shift in his career trajectory. Major studios began seeking out the star to be in their movies whether for onscreen roles or providing a voiceover.
Thanks to Steven Spielberg, Vin Diesel quickly became one of Hollywood’s hottest young actors. Offering his voice in The Iron Giant to starring in Pitch Black, Diesel soon found his long-awaited leading man breakout through the Fast & Furious franchise.
Saving Private Ryan is available on Paramount+.
