Fast And Furious Honors Paul Walker at the Finish Line For 25th Anniversary

Fast and Furious has spent twenty-five years tearing through Los Angeles, Rio, London, and Rome, but Cannes never made the itinerary. Jordana Brewster finally took the franchise to the French Riviera for a midnight screening of the 2001 original. She calls the moment super validating, but a little bittersweet all the same. Have you ever waited a quarter century for a festival invite?

The Diesel Masterplan

Vin Diesel dreamed up this Cannes screening a couple of years ago and somehow willed it into existence. The star and producer wanted to salute the seven-billion-dollar franchise ahead of its twenty-fifth anniversary in June. Fast and Furious‘ family reunion on the red steps includes Brewster, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, and even Meadow Walker standing in for her late father, Paul Walker. Fast and Furious‘ matriarch of sorts felt her throat catch when she realized Meadow would appear. Does a tribute ever feel complete without a few tears?

The actress sat down for coffee and an omelette while prepping for a marathon day of glamour and photographs. Rewatching the original movie reminded her how well the story held up, except for one hilarious detail. She joked that the only part showing its age was the plot point about hijacking trucks full of TV-DVD players, and that little jab earned a real chuckle. Fast and Furious‘ first film established the Toretto family lore with a crew of gearheads and street racers. Who knew that stealing obsolete electronics would become the most charming time capsule?

Every Character Gets Their Moment

Brewster praised how the first movie fleshed out every single character, a rare feat for any ensemble piece. She believes that deep attention to each role allowed the franchise to last for twenty-five crazy years. Her character Mia serves as the moral compass, grounded and steady, while everything else spins off the rails. Fast and Furious‘ wilder moments include a Pontiac Fiero rocketing into outer space in “F9,” which no one saw coming. Have you ever watched a car leave the atmosphere and thought, yeah, that tracks?

The rewatch reminded Brewster of Mia’s hidden grit, something she honestly misses in the later films. She hopes that toughness returns for the final movie, “Fast Forever,” which hits theaters in March 2028. Vin Diesel dropped major news at the NBCUniversal upfront presentation about a television show on Peacock expanding legacy characters. Fast and Furious‘ star learned about the TV show from the same public announcement as everyone else. Would you rather find out your own work news from a stage in New York?

Karma and Two Little Kids

Brewster joked that a television spinoff could feature her character with two kids getting into all kinds of trouble. She called that scenario almost like karma coming home to roost in the best possible way. The idea also offers a nice method of perpetuating the Brian character and his family legacy through her storyline. Fast and Furious‘ extended universe keeps growing, but Brewster stays ready for whatever comes next. What goes around really does come around, especially when family is involved.

At the very first table read alongside Diesel, Walker, and Rodriguez, the actress recalled feeling totally out of her depth. She was still a student at Yale, and “The Fast and the Furious” marked only her third movie ever. Michelle Rodriguez struck her as the most fearless person in the room, never afraid to speak her mind about character choices. Fast and Furious‘ younger cast member wished she had some of that boldness back then. Has age finally given her that same courage?

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