The on-screen rivalry between Vin Diesel and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in The Fast and the Furious franchise has been a captivating aspect of the series. The feud began when they first appeared on-screen together in the 2011 film, Fast Five, and reportedly did not get along on set. The tension reached a boiling point during the filming of the eighth movie in the franchise, The Fate of the Furious, when Johnson called out Diesel on Instagram for being unprofessional and rude. However, the feud seems to have been resolved, and the success of the franchise continues despite the drama.
The Fast and the Furious: Vin Diesel vs. Dwayne Johnson
The Fast and the Furious franchise is one of the most successful movie franchises in history. With eight movies already released, the series has grossed over $5 billion worldwide. Among the many reasons why the movie series is loved by many, the on-screen rivalry between Vin Diesel and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is perhaps one of the most intriguing ones. In this article, we will take a closer look at this rivalry, its origins, and how it has evolved over time.
The Origins
The rivalry between Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson started when they first appeared on-screen together in the 2011 film, Fast Five. In the movie, Johnson’s character, Luke Hobbs, is a federal agent tasked with capturing Diesel’s character, Dominic Toretto. The two actors reportedly did not get along on set, and rumors started to spread that they had a real-life feud as well.
The Height of the Rivalry
The tension between Diesel and Johnson reached a boiling point during the filming of the eighth movie in the series, The Fate of the Furious. In a now-deleted Instagram post, Johnson called out Diesel for being unprofessional and rude, saying he was “a candy-ass” and “that he was too chicken to do anything about it.” Johnson continued to say that some of his male co-stars on the set were “unprofessional” and “candy-asses,” while praising his female co-stars as being “stand up, strong women.”
Many people thought that this was a publicity stunt to generate hype for the movie’s release. However, Johnson later confirmed that the feud was indeed real, telling Rolling Stone that “Vin and I had a few discussions, including an important face-to-face in my trailer. And what I came to realize is that we have a fundamental difference in philosophies on how we approach movie-making and collaborating.”
The Fallout and Resolutions
The public feud between Diesel and Johnson led to some behind-the-scenes tension among the other cast members. In an interview with EW, Michelle Rodriguez, who plays Letty Ortiz in the franchise, said that she had felt like “a zoo animal” on set due to the ongoing drama between the two actors.
However, it seems that the feud has since been resolved. Diesel and Johnson are once again on good terms, with Diesel posting a video on Instagram in 2019, praising Johnson’s performance in the spin-off movie, Hobbs & Shaw. In the video, Diesel says, “I’m proud of you,” and “I’m always rooting for you.” Johnson responded to the video, saying, “You gotta love that guy. Brotherhood that runs deeper than a bloodline.”
The Impact of the Rivalry
Despite the drama between Diesel and Johnson, The Fast and the Furious franchise continues to be a huge success. In fact, the two actors’ rivalry has arguably added to the appeal of the movies. Fans love to see the drama and tension between the characters, and the rivalry has helped to fuel that.
Overall, the on-screen rivalry between Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson has been a captivating aspect of The Fast and the Furious franchise. While the feud may have caused some tension behind the scenes, the two actors seem to have resolved their issues and are back to being on good terms. As for the future of the franchise, fans will have to wait and see if these two powerhouse actors will ever share the screen again.