Vin Diesel has fond memories of Paul Walker.
On Wednesday night, during a midnight screening of 2001’s The Fast and the Furious at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, Diesel broke down in tears while remembering his late co-star.
“I pray that in your life, you can have a brother like Paul,” Diesel said in front of a sold-out crowd at the Palais des Festivals, per Variety. Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, and Walker’s 27-year-old daughter, Meadow, also shed tears as the audience gave them a four-minute standing ovation.
“It’s so hard for me to watch it because there’s so many moments in this movie that you see, that I see differently,” Diesel continued. “The scene that you see, I see the moment Pablo told me he had a 1-year-old daughter.”
He ended his speech by embracing Meadow and sharing something she told him with the crowd. “She said, ‘I’m 27, and I’m watching this film that my father made at 27,’ and I thought, ‘How profound,'” Diesel said. “Meadow has been such a source of strength, and I know he’d be so proud of you.”
Elsewhere, during the night, he explained that the first installment of The Fast and the Furious franchise “introduced” brotherhood “to our millennium” through his friendship with Walker.
Diesel also confirmed that the finale of the Fast franchise is being made for 2028.
“I’m gonna go and shed a tear real quick, but I just want you all to know, the only reason why we’re making the finale of Fast for 2028 is because of each and every one of you that has given us your hearts and your loyalty,” he said.
“Each and every one of you that has felt like you were a part of our family, you make us have to continue. You make us want to make you all proud. What you’re gonna watch tonight is the beginning of one word, and that word is love. I love you all.”
The final film, Fast Forever, is expected to debut in theaters on March 17, 2028.
