The Fast and the Furious franchise got its fame and recognition with the dynamic pairing of Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. Together, the two actors became the integral faces of the films until Walker’s shocking and untimely death in 2013 while filming the 7th installment. Since then, Diesel who also doubled up as the producer, attempted to compensate for his co-star’s loss by roping in big league action stars like Dwayne Johnson and John Cena.
While the films went through their share of controversies especially with the high profile feud between Diesel and Johnson, there was no doubt that they pioneered a whole new era of action through the nuances of street racing. In an old interview, Diesel reminisced about getting into character with Walker, which included hands-on expertise on the techniques of driving street cars. Little did they realize that their illegal training almost landed them behind bars.
Also Read: What Did Vin Diesel Say About Sexual Battery Allegations From His Ex-assistant Asta Jonasson?
Vin Diesel and Paul Walker Almost Had A Run-In With The Cops
There was something organic and magical about the bromance between Vin Diesel and Paul Walker which defined the essence of The Fast and the Furious films, until the Eight Below star’s tragic demise in 2013. The two celebrities who gave the franchise its cult status, shared many memorable moments on and off-set that sometimes almost ended in disaster.
The Guardians of the Galaxy actor and the Takers star were both in search of authenticity when it came to bringing street racing to life on screen. This led them to find some hands-on experience to hone their skills. With LA being the haven of underground street culture activities, Diesel and Walker felt that this would be the perfect place to prepare themselves to embrace this world.
As it turned out, the two actors entered into a lion’s den of sorts. In an interview with the cast members for the 20th anniversary of the film which appeared in Entertainment Weekly, Diesel recalled how the situation got progressively worse leading to him and his co-star almost getting caught with the cops.
“I remember going to this illegal street race, my first on the West Coast, and helicopters coming in and everyone dispersing. I’m from New York City and cops don’t usually come by helicopter. So Paul and I are running down the highway together.“
Despite the precarious situation that almost landed them in prison, Diesel believed that all these experiences led him to form an intrinsic connection to Walker even after his shocking death.
Dwayne Johnson Accused Vin Diesel Of Manipulation
As much as Paul Walker and Vin Diesel symbolized an organic brotherhood and camaraderie on and off-set, Walker was ironically also one of the reasons behind the disagreeements between Diesel and Dwayne Johnson when the latter was signed on to be part of the franchise. With controversies surrounding creative clashes between the two actors, Johnson went on record to state that he will not be part of the franchise after Fast Five and the spinoff film Hobbs and Shaw.
The Rock also criticized the Groot actor for emotionally blackmailing him to be part of The Fast and the Furious 9 using the late Paul Walker’s name. Speaking of being pushed to a corner, Johnson spoke candidly in an interview with CNN in which he detailed the issues he had with Diesel’s approach.
“I told [Diesel] directly that I would not be returning to the franchise. I was firm yet cordial with my words and said that I would always be supportive of the cast and always root for the franchise to be successful, but that there was no chance I would return. Vin’s recent public post was an example of his manipulation. I didn’t like that he brought up his children in the post, as well as Paul Walker’s death. Leave them out of it.”
Johnson went on to add that while his issues were only with Vin Diesel, he did not harbor any malice towards the franchise or the other members of the cast, and was always keen on the films doing well at the box office. Now, with The Rock’s iconic cameo in Fast X, it seems like its water under the bridge finally for the two action stars.
