Overview
- The reunion at Cannes, capped by a midnight screening Wednesday of the 2001 original at the Grand Théâtre Lumière, drew Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster and Meadow Walker.
- Diesel delivered a tearful tribute to Paul Walker, telling the crowd he wished everyone could have a brother like Paul and then hugging Meadow Walker on stage.
- Using the event as a platform, Diesel confirmed plans for television spin-offs and said the franchise will close with an eleventh movie slated for 2028.
- Festival organizers leaned on the blockbuster reunion to add star power during a year with fewer major U.S. studio premieres, as the saga’s films have earned about $7 billion worldwide.
- The Cannes spotlight also drew criticism from French outlet Télérama, which questioned honoring a car‑centric series as the festival asks attendees to pay an annual environmental fee.