The Cannes Film Festival celebrated the 25th anniversary of “The Fast and the Furious” on Wednesday night with a special midnight screening attended by franchise stars Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez.
Fans lined the red carpet for hours ahead of the event, cheering as Diesel stopped to take selfies and greet the crowd. The actor wore a black jacket featuring a racecar design and the words “Fast Forever” in sequins on the back, referencing the franchise’s upcoming sequel planned for release in 2028.
Released in 2001, “The Fast and the Furious” began as a film centred on street racing culture in Los Angeles before growing into one of Hollywood’s most successful action franchises. Produced by Universal Pictures, the series has since expanded to include nine sequels and the spin-off “Hobbs & Shaw”, earning more than $7 billion worldwide at the box office.
The Cannes screening also served as a tribute to actor Paul Walker, Diesel’s longtime co-star, who died in a car crash in Southern California in 2013. Walker’s daughter, Meadow Walker, attended the event and previously appeared in a cameo role in “Fast X”.
Before the screening at Cannes’ Grand Theatre Lumiere, Diesel addressed the audience and reflected on the recognition the film received from festival director Thierry Fremaux.
“To come with a film that you, the head of the most prestigious film festival in the world, are calling a classic — how profound is that?” Diesel said.
The next installment, titled “Fast Forever”, is expected to reunite the original cast along with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jason Statham. Diesel also announced earlier this week that television projects based on the franchise are currently in development, expanding the action series beyond films and into television entertainment for global audiences in the years ahead worldwide. — Reuters
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