Fresh from the international success of F9, Vin Diesel says he's willing to do a musical based on the Fast & Furious franchise. F9 is the ninth installment of the action film saga, which debuted in 2001. It followed the story of a group of street racing enthusiasts and hijackers led by Diesel's character, Dominic Toretto. The franchise also starred the late Paul Walker as the undercover cop in pursuit of Dominic and his gang, who would later go on to join his crew. It's been 20 years since the first Fast & Furious movie was released and the hype has not slowed down.
Despite being heavily delayed due to the global coronavirus pandemic, F9 premiered internationally last May and instantly broke box office numbers. It finally dropped in the U.S. this weekend and is expected to continue its winning streak. Diesel reprises his role as Dom, who is now retired and living peacefully as a husband and father until he is dragged back into the thrill and danger of his past. Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster, Charlize Theron, and John Cena also star in the film.
While the Fast & Furious movies cemented Diesel's status as a sought-after action star, what many of his fans don't know is that the actor is also an avid singer. While promoting F9 on The Kelly Clarkson Show on Wednesday, the 53-year-old actor talked about his attempts at singing and background as a breakdancer. When host Clarkson asked him if he would ever consider doing a Fast & Furious musical, Diesel excitedly said yes. The action star revealed that he's been "dying" to do a musical since he started acting and even got close to doing Guys and Dolls with Steven Spielberg.
I'm dying to do a musical, so yes, I would! I've been dying to do a musical my whole life! [I was] this close to doing Guys and Dolls with Steven Spielberg, but we ended up not doing that. My family is artistic, and I'm blessed to have that and I'm blessed to be in a family that is supportive of these crazy dreams. I would encourage everyone to support the people who want to think outside the box and dream something impossible because there's great beauty in that.
Earlier in the talk show, Diesel recounted how Queen Latifah encouraged him to pursue singing years ago at an Oscars party after hearing his deep voice. Diesel actually has his own record label, Racetrack Records, to represent his creative venture. Last year, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the actor released two singles, "Feel Like I Do" and "Days Are Gone." The first one features a dance/EDM pop tune while the latter better showcases Diesel's unique sound.
Should Diesel seriously consider a career in music, he certainly won't be the first actor to do so. Many action stars have previously ventured into singing, from Bruce Willis to Gerald Butler, Hugh Jackman, and even Russell Crowe. Dwayne Johnson, who starred with Diesel in four Fast & Furious films, has also tried his hand at singing with Disney's Moana. Diesel himself isn't a stranger to recording studios after having voiced Groot for Guardians of the Galaxy movies. Given the right project, Diesel will surely rock a role in a musical and impress fans with his versatility and dedication.
Source: The Kelly Clarkson Show