John Cena reflected on the tension between Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel on the set of the Fast & Furious franchise as he joined the cast for F9 as Jakob Toretto. He acknowledged the rumors of a feud between Johnson and Diesel, recognizing the dynamic between two alpha personalities and the importance of respect on a long-standing film series. Cena made it a priority to be a positive addition to the franchise without adding any drama and to contribute to the success of the films.
The rumored feud between Johnson and Diesel began in 2016 when Johnson posted a cryptic message on Instagram hinting at conflict with a costar during the filming of The Fate of the Furious. Despite working together in several films in the franchise, rumors persisted about tension between the two actors. Johnson later confirmed he would not be returning to the franchise, expressing his regret over the cryptic post but standing by his comments. The lack of scenes together in The Fate of the Furious further fueled speculation about the strained relationship between the actors.
Following Johnson’s departure from the Fast & Furious franchise, Diesel publicly reached out to him in an attempt to bring him back to the series. Diesel’s gesture was met with reluctance by Johnson, who had previously made it clear that he would not be returning to the franchise. However, two years later, Johnson reluctantly agreed to reprise his role, surprising fans with a post-credits cameo in Fast X that teased his character’s return for the final installments. Director Louis Leterrier credited the peace treaty to a mutual desire to work together and the success of the film ultimately bringing the actors back together.
The tension between Johnson and Diesel was a topic of discussion among fans and media outlets, with many speculating about the nature of their feud and the impact on the Fast & Furious franchise. Johnson’s decision to leave the franchise and later return raised questions about the dynamics between the actors and the behind-the-scenes relationships on set. Despite the challenges and rumors of conflict, the actors were able to come together and work towards a resolution that allowed them to collaborate on future installments of the film series.
The reconciliation between Johnson and Diesel was seen as a significant moment for the Fast & Furious franchise, with fans and industry insiders recognizing the importance of the actors working together for the success of the films. The behind-the-scenes drama added an extra layer of intrigue to the franchise, with audiences eagerly anticipating the return of Johnson and his character in the final installments. The peace treaty between the actors was ultimately brokered by the success of the film and the mutual desire to move past the rumored feud and collaborate on future projects.
