Paul Walker's daughter, Meadow, joined Vin Diesel on the red carpet for a midnight screening celebrating the 25th anniversary of the first Fast and Furious movie. The event took place at the Cannes Film Festival, where the 27-year-old joined the cast to honor the franchise's milestone.
A Night of Tributes
On Wednesday night, the cast enjoyed a midnight screening of the original film, The Fast and The Furious, first released in 2001. Before the screening, Vin Diesel paid a special tribute to his goddaughter, Meadow Walker, whose father, Paul Walker, died in a car accident in November 2013.
“The person who was not going to let me come alone here to represent that brotherhood was Meadow Walker,” said Diesel, 58, as applause erupted. “I’m gonna go and shed a tear real quick.”
Diesel's Emotional Speech
Diesel also addressed the audience about the upcoming finale, Fast Forever, set for 2028. “The only reason why we’re making the finale for Fast for 2028… It’s because of each and every one of you that has given us your hearts and your loyalty,” he said. “Each and every one of you that has felt like you are a part of our family. You make us have to continue. You make us want to make you all proud.”
Just before the screening began, Diesel told the audience that this film was “the beginning of one word… and that word is love.”
Meadow's Speech
After the credits rolled, Meadow also made a speech with Diesel's help. The duo called the franchise's cast a “source of strength,” before Diesel told her that Paul would be “so proud” of her as he wiped away tears. The two embraced again, as they did on the red carpet, and the audience applauded.
Other franchise members, including Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez, also traveled to France for the celebration.
Remembering Paul Walker
Paul died at age 40 in 2013 after a car accident in Santa Clarita. The last Fast and Furious film he appeared in fully was Fast & Furious 6 (2013). After his death, he appeared in Furious 7, where his brothers, Caleb and Cody, along with CGI technology, were used to finish his remaining scenes. The script was rewritten to give his character, Brian O'Conner, a proper send-off, and a famous scene with the song “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth was commissioned as a tribute, showing Brian driving off into a different path.
Paul left behind one daughter, Meadow, who was 14 at the time of his death. She is his only child with Rebecca Soteros, a childhood friend with whom he had an on-and-off relationship. Meadow lived with her mother in Hawaii for 13 years but moved to California to live with her father in 2011.
