Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez led a cast reunion at the Cannes Film Festival as “The Fast and the Furious” marked its 25th anniversary with a special screening, bringing Hollywood nostalgia and star power to the French Riviera.
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The event saw Diesel and Rodriguez joined by fellow cast member Jordana Brewster, along with the daughter of the late actor Paul Walker, who passed away in a car crash in 2013. The group posed for photos ahead of the midnight screening of the original 2001 street-racing film that launched a global franchise.
The screening forms part of the Cannes Classics section and highlights the enduring popularity of the action series, which has grown into a multi-billion-dollar global franchise spanning multiple sequels, spin-offs and merchandise. Industry estimates place its worldwide box office earnings at more than seven billion dollars.
Vin Diesel also revealed earlier in the week that the franchise, now in its 11th instalment, is being adapted into a television series under Universal Pictures, expanding the universe beyond the big screen.
This year’s Cannes Festival has seen a notable absence of major Hollywood studios such as Universal, Disney, Sony, Netflix and Amazon, which have opted not to premiere new blockbusters at the event. Analysts attribute the move to rising costs, changing marketing strategies focused on digital platforms, and concerns over critical reception affecting box office performance.
Alongside the Fast & Furious celebration, acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth” is also being featured in the Cannes Classics programme. The 2006 fantasy drama returns to the festival two decades after receiving a record-breaking 22-minute standing ovation.
Del Toro described the original reaction as an overwhelming emotional experience, recalling advice from filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón to “let love in” during the moment of praise.
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“Pan’s Labyrinth,” set in post–Spanish Civil War Spain, follows a young girl navigating a dark fantasy world while dealing with harsh realities under a military regime. The film later went on to achieve critical acclaim and won three Academy Awards. Both screenings highlight Cannes’ continued role in celebrating iconic films alongside contemporary cinema.