By It’s obvious. Dwayne Johnson (top billing) and Vin Diesel are going to fight. For money. And I’m going to tell you why. In a recent Rolling Stone cover story Johnson explained that there’s beef between him and Diesel by not explaining a damn thing. He admitted that the two didn’t film any scenes together in Fate of the Furious primarily because the tanktop nipple showdown between he and Diesel got too intense. Johnson also threw shade at whether or not he will return to the main Fast series, iterating that he’s focused on making the best possible spinoff with Jason Statham, a real actor.
This is only the latest chapter in the feud between #family that started on social media in 2016. Johnson began it by calling out male co-stars and their lack of respect for the people they work with. Names weren’t named, because that’s not how #family works, but the public speculated Johnson was referring to Diesel. Co-star Tyrese Gibson seemed to confirm this by posting in support of Diesel over Johnson, while warning Johnson not to mess with #family, specifically his #family.
All the while, no one has ever really said what the problem is, only used the media to emphasize that there is a problem. Does this sound familiar? It should. This is the same playbook used by Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather to drum up the promotional hype that made them hundreds of millions of dollars, including individual payday checks larger than any either Johnson or Diesel has ever taken home to feed their #family.
Imagine too, the cost saved on producing a fight versus producing and marketing a major Hollywood film. While the Fast franchise films are now billion dollar installments, the potential profit to each man, and producers, is that much greater due to potential savings from production.
Plus there’s the added bonus of getting to beat the shit out of each other, because you know, #family has conflict. It’s not like The Rock hasn’t been paid to fight before. It’s only a matter of time before someone figures out (or a helpful media consultant—ay—ay—small fee fellas!) floats the idea and it takes root. #familyforlife
Who would win in a fight between The Rock and The Riddick? Tell us your pick below, or you know, just who you think looks better in a tight white tank.
Dwayne Johnson May Not Return for ‘Fast and Furious 9’ Due to Feud with Vin Diesel [Collider]