Diesel is staying on with the franchise, which he appeared to confirm will end with the upcoming 11th installment
Vin Diesel confirmed that he will be staying on with the “Fast & Furious” franchise as he spoke out for the first time since his former assistant Asta Jonasson sued him for sexual battery.
The 56-year-old actor, who produces and stars in the hit film series, shared an update on the upcoming 11th installment in his first public statement regarding his future with “Fast & Furious” after sexual assault allegations were made against him by Jonasson last December.
Diesel, who also appeared to confirm that the long-running franchise will be ending with the 11th movie, has previously denied any wrongdoing.
“Just finished our end of the week Fast meeting with the writers and the whole team… to say the excitement for our finale was incredibly powerful is an understatement. Wow. So exciting…,” Diesel wrote in an Instagram post alongside a still of himself in the movie.
The California native went on to praise the fans of “Fast & Furious” for their support and dedication to the franchise.
“While everyone was heading into the weekend amped and excited, I thought of you all… reminded of the countless moments when your enthusiasm and passion became the driving force behind our creative journey,” he wrote.
“Your commitment to our saga has had a unique impact on its success and evolution… as my youngest daughter would say, it’s profound.”
“Thank you for being the backbone of this global saga that because of you, transcends the screen,” he added.
“This grand finale is not just an ending; it’s a celebration of the incredible family we’ve built together.”
“Hope to make you proud!” he concluded.
Diesel has starred as Dominic Toretto, the leader of a street racing team, since the action franchise’s debut movie “The Fast & the Furious” premiered in 2001. Though he did not appear in the second film, 2003’s “2 Fast 2 Furious” and only made a brief cameo in the third installment, 2006’s “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,” Diesel returned as a star and producer for the fourth movie, 2009’s “Fast & Furious.”
The actor has remained a lead character and served as a producer for the franchise’s last six installments, including the 10th film “Fast X,” which was released in May 2023.
However, he has not previously commented on his future with the franchise since Johansson filed a sexual battery lawsuit against him under California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act, which allows victims to revive claims that would otherwise be barred from the legal process due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.