Vin Diesel Opens Up about His Renewed Friendship with Dwayne Johnson and Celebrates His Powerful Turn in THE SMASHING MACHINE
Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson have taken their long running Fast and Furious saga from intense on-and-off-screen clashes to reconciliation, and Diesel is now openly celebrating Johnson in a heartfelt way.
What began as a reflective Instagram post about the past quickly shifted into something meaningful as Diesel praised Johnson’s latest dramatic turn as MMA legend Mark Kerr in the upcoming film The Smashing Machine.
Diesel revealed that he once trained with Kerr while preparing for XXX, which created an unexpected emotional connection to Johnson’s new role. That trip down memory lane helped set the stage for Diesel to publicly recognize how much he values Johnson today, especially after years of tension during their Fast and Furious era.
“Let me celebrate Dwayne,” Vin Diesel began. “People don’t understand what it takes to uphold a global perception every single day. I remember asking our global family who they’d love to see me work with, and a woman named Jan left a comment saying her dream was for me to collaborate with Dwayne.
“What followed became one of the most dynamic pairings in cinema, two strong personalities who pushed each other and created something unforgettable. When he stepped into Hobbs, he did it with full commitment and left an indelible mark on Universal’s character hall of fame.”
That partnership became a defining force for the franchise, with Johnson’s Luke Hobbs quickly becoming a fan favorite. He returned to the role in the Fast X post credits scene where Dante, played by Jason Momoa, targeted Hobbs for the death of his father.
A spin off centered on Hobbs was planned to bridge Fast X and what evolved into Fast 11, though the series appears to be idling at the moment.
Diesel hinted last year that the creative gears behind the scenes were grinding in different directions. “I just want to get back to real street racing, practical stunts… and a reunion of that beautiful brotherhood,” he shared, making it clear he wants the Fast saga to reconnect with its roots.
Despite whatever turbulence the franchise faces, the relationship between Diesel and Johnson seems fully repaired, something Johnson confirmed publicly long before this latest show of support. “Last summer Vin and I put all the past behind us,” Dwayne Johnson shared on social media in 2023.
It’s good to see Diesel and Johnson are buddies again.