Vin Diesel shares a touching tribute video for the late Paul Walker's birthday, celebrating reaching Fast X, the tenth installment in the long-running franchise. First hitting screens back in 2001, The Fast and the Furious introduced audiences to Diesel's Dominic Toretto and Walker's Brian O'Conner. The film ended up spawning a successful franchise that continues to this day, now consisting of nine movies in the main saga, with Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw acting as a spinoff. After the release of F9: The Fast Saga last year, it was confirmed that two additional (and final installments) were on the way.
Fast and Furious 10, officially titled Fast X, is expected to release next spring, with Diesel returning as Toretto. In addition to franchise regulars like Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, and Ludacris, the upcoming film is confirmed to feature a number of exciting newcomers, including Alan Ritchson, Brie Larson, Rita Moreno, Daniela Melchior, and Aquaman's Jason Momoa, who plays the villain. Walker, who was a mainstay of the franchise, sadly passed away in 2013, and can last be seen in Furious 7, although his character still remains alive in the Fast & Furious canon.
In an emotional new video posted to his Instagram, Diesel celebrates what would have been Walker's 49th birthday. After sharing a touching story about how he and Paul provided aid to Haiti after the devastating 2010 earthquake, the actor celebrates reaching the tenth film in the Fast & Furious franchise, saying "We finally did it. We finally made Fast 10 as you and I promised so many years ago." Check out Diesel's video below:
Fast X is expected to be the second to last entry in the franchise before the 11th film concludes the stories of Toretto and the other members of the Fast Saga. Since Walker's character remains alive in the world of the Fast & Furious, many fans have pondered whether he will be digitally recreated in some form for the finale. In any case, Diesel's video is further proof of just how close the two became after working together on The Fast and the Furious and the longevity that they both saw in their characters and the film's premise.
Although it's unclear what Diesel has in store for fans with Fast X, the films in the Fast & Furious franchise continue to honor Walker in small ways, often showing his iconic vehicle as a sign that O'Conner is still alive and well. Later installments haven't always fared well with critics, but it is no small achievement to reach 10 films in a blockbuster franchise that started off following a group of street racers. It remains to be seen whether Walker will be added into Fast X or Fast & Furious 11 digitally as one final farewell, but Diesel evidently still carries the actor with him in spirit and holds their bond in high regard.
Source: Vin Diesel/ Instagram
