Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster reunite at the Cannes Film Festival to mark the 25th anniversary of “The Fast and the Furious,” the original 2001 film that launched the franchise. The cast members pose together ahead of a special midnight screening later in the day, turning the festival’s main red-carpet spotlight toward the long-running Hollywood property. Multiple outlets also note Diesel’s public acknowledgement of late co-star Paul Walker: Walker’s daughter joins the cast reunion at Cannes, and coverage describes an emotional tribute connected to Walker, who died in a 2013 car crash.
Separately, reports from the event describe a broader Cannes context this year, saying major U.S. studios and streamers are notably absent from launching large blockbusters on the French Riviera. The outlets citing this point attribute the decision to factors including cost-cutting, a shift toward tightly controlled, social-media-driven release strategies, and concern that a difficult reception from Cannes critics could harm a film’s prospects. The franchise, built around street racing and high-stakes car stunts, is reported to have grossed more than US$7 billion worldwide.
