Vin Diesel tears up remembering Paul Walker, hugs his daughter Meadow at Cannes

Actor Vin Diesel teared up as he remembered his late co-star Paul Walker during a screening of The Fast and the Furious at the Cannes Film Festival. A video of the moment has surfaced on social media. The event brought together members of the franchise cast as well as Paul Walker's daughter, Meadow Walker, as the franchise marked its 25th anniversary.

During the midnight screening of the first film, Diesel spoke about his bond with Walker and also mentioned Meadow in his remarks. The audience then gave the cast a standing ovation, with many in the theatre seen crying. Diesel later said the final film, due in 2028, was being made because of the support and loyalty of fans.

Vin Diesel's emotional reaction

Speaking at the screening, Diesel said Walker's place in his life had grown far beyond what was written on the page. According to Variety, he said, "I pray that in your life you have a brother like Paul... It wasn't on the script at first that this blond-haired, blue-eyed guy would be a brother to me."

After the screening, Diesel addressed the crowd again. He said, "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. You make us want to make you all proud."

Vin meets Paul Walker's daughter

Earlier, Meadow Walker and Diesel shared a hug during a May 13 photo call in France held in honour of the franchise's 25th anniversary. Meadow posed with the cast, including Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster, and also spent time with longtime producer Neal H. Moritz. She had earlier reunited with her Fast family during her wedding to Louis Thornton-Allan in 2021.

She later attended the midnight screening in an olive green gown with ruffles and shared more moments with her father's former co-stars. According to People, Diesel said inside the theatre, "The person who was not going to let me come alone here to represent that brotherhood was Meadow Walker. I'm gonna go and shed a tear real quick."

Meadow was 15 when Walker died in a fatal car crash. She has continued to post tributes to him over the years. In November 2025, she shared a slideshow of father-daughter photographs on Instagram and wrote, "12 years without you... I love you forever (sic)." In 2023, on what would have been his 50th birthday, she thanked her "guardian angel" for his "love, guidance, friendship, sunshine" and said he was "the most kind, humble, generous and caring soul."

After Walker died in 2013, Diesel extended constant support to his daughter Meadow and has often described her as family. He even walked her down the aisle at her wedding in 2021.

Upcoming series on Fast & Furious

The franchise is also expanding to television. Vin Diesel recently said at the NBCUniversal upfront presentation in New York that Peacock was developing shows set in the Fast & Furious universe after years of constant demands from fans for more stories around legacy characters. He said the move happened only when he felt the franchise's core identity would be protected.