Vin Diesel’s ambiguous response to a question about Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson returning to Fast And Furious suggests the pair may not have squashed their beef yet.
Warning: the following article contains Fast X spoilers!
Having first hit the big screen back in the early 2000s, the Fast and Furious movie franchise has continued to thrive for over 20 years since, with Fast X, the tenth feature-length installment, having recently hit the cinemas.
Despite the fact that the Fast and Furious brand is centered around family and looking out for one another, two of the most high-profile cast members have endured something of a public feud in recent years. And, judging by a rather awkward response to a recent interview question, it appears that things between Vin Diesel and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson may still not be completely sorted.
Vin Diesel sidesteps Dwayne Johnson question
Without giving too much away, in the latter stages of Fast X there may or may not be a cameo appearance from a certain Mr Johnson – his first feature in an installment of the central movie franchise since The Fate of the Furious back in 2017.
But when Johnson’s co-star Diesel was asked about the former WWE star returning for the 11th movie in an interview with ET he remained rather coy. “We have such a great cast,” Diesel told the site. “We lead with love.”
“We try to create an environment where people can do their best work, the veteran star continued. “That’s all actors really want, is to feel as though they’re supported to create unique characters. Characters that last forever, and you see that in this franchise.”
Diesel’s refusal to directly acknowledge the potential return of Johnson comes after Johnson claimed in 2021 that he would not feature in any more Fast and Furious movies following rumors the pair were feuding.
Vin Diesel and Dwayne The Rock Johnson’s feud explained
The rumors of beef between the A-list pair first began circulating back in 2016 when it was reported that they had clashed on set during filming for The Fate of the Furious.
Tensions between the pair were raised significantly after Johnson uploaded a now-deleted Instagram post in which he took aim at his supposedly “unprofessional” Fast and Furious co-stars.
The feud continued through to 2021 when Johnson responded to comments Diesel had made months prior about his personal philosophy of treating actors with “tough love” on set.
Johnson strongly resented the idea that Diesel had treated him with tough love during their time on set, telling Vanity Fair that “there’s no way” he would dignify such a claim with an answer.
Inside the awkward ‘peace meeting’
In the same interview, Johnson admitted that he and Diesel had sat down with one another in an attempt to hash things out, though they had agreed to disagree.
“Well, there was a meeting,” Johnson confirmed. “I wouldn’t call it a peaceful meeting. I would call it a meeting of clarity.”
“He and I had a good chat in my trailer, and it was out of that chat that it really became just crystal clear that we are two separate ends of the spectrum. And agreed to leave it there.”
The pair have not been spotted together in the two years that have followed Johnson’s comments, so, if Johnson is to have a central role in the next Fast and Furious movie, it will be interesting to see how they approach the shooting of the project.