It makes sense that Vin Diesel can call the shots with what happens with his franchise character, Dominic Toretto. After all, he’s been the face of the “Fast and Furious” movie franchise since he starred opposite the late Paul Walker in the first movie in the series, “The Fast and the Furious,” in 2001.
In addition to toplining all 10 of the “Fast and Furious” films to date, Diesel has served as a producer on every chapter in the saga since the fourth film, 2009’s “Fast & Furious.” Dwayne Johnson’s and Jason Statham’s contract stipulations are equally merited, given their participation in the franchise has been just as vital to the success of the “Fast and Furious” films as Diesel’s turn as Toretto.
A report in USA Today (via The Guardian) in 2019 suggested that the trio’s contract stipulation stemmed from Johnson’s and Diesel’s feud, which resulted in Johnson’s vow that he was done with the “Fast and Furious” franchise. “It’s not always easy being an alpha. And it’s two alphas,” Johnson told USA Today about the hubbub between the two actors. An unnamed editor told in the same USA Today article that physicality in the “Fast and Furious” movies is an issue the stars worry about. “It’s like that old trope where an actor comes in and wants more closeups,” the editor said. “They want more muscles.”
Of course, Johnson’s and Diesel’s feud has since been settled, as implied by the post-credits cameo Johnson made in 2023’s “Fast X.” Whether Johnson and Statham will be back for “Fast and Furious 11” — along with their wild contract demands — is a question that remains unanswered.
