Everything to Know About Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel's Feud Over the Years

Mar. 15, 2025

Dwayne JohnsonandVin Diesel’s feud has been as turbulent as any action sequence in theFast & Furiousfranchise.

Since 2016, countless reports ofbehind-the-scenes dramabetween Diesel and Johnson have followed the actors well beyond the filming of 2017’sThe Fate of the Furious —the inception point of their longstanding contention.

It was while shooting the eighth installment of the iconic series that the two men were rumored to have butted heads on more than one occasion. As of summer 2023, however, theFuriousactors seemingly quashed their differences, withthe WWE starannouncing his official return to the franchise.

“Last summer Vin and I put all the past behind us,“Johnson posted on X(formerly known as Twitter) on June 1, 2023. “We’ll lead with brotherhood and resolve — and always take care of the franchise, characters & FANS that we love.”

From conflicts behind the scenes to the various shots they’ve taken at each other during interviews, here’s a rundown of Johnson and Diesel’s feud.

August 8, 2016: Dwayne Johnson calls out unnamed costars, hints at riff with Vin Diesel

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Vin Diesel in 2011.Buda Mendes/LatinContent via Getty Images

Buda Mendes/LatinContent via Getty Images

“There’s no other franchise that gets my blood boiling more than this one,” Johnson wrote. “My female costars are always amazing and I love’em. My male costars, however, are a different story. Some conduct themselves as stand up men and true professionals, while others don’t.”

He added: “The ones that don’t are too chicken s— to do anything about it anyway. Candy a—-. When you watch this movie next April and it seems like I’m not acting in some of these scenes and my blood is legit boiling — you’re right.”

According to TMZ, after sharing his post, Johnson and Dieselallegedly met upin an attempt to hash things out in private — though it was unclear at the time whether the two had made amends.

August 2016: Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel’s feud was “building up for months”

A source close to the production ofThe Fate of the Furioustold PEOPLE the conflicts between Johnson and Diesel had been “building up for months” before Johnson’s Instagram call-out.

“Vin has been having problems with The Rock because The Rock keeps showing up late for production,” the insider explained. “Sometimes he doesn’t show up at all, and he’s delaying the production.”

(Other sources recounted similar behavior from Diesel toThe Hollywood ReporterandPage Sixin 2015 and 2016, respectively.)

April 7, 2017: Vin Diesel addresses rumored beef with Dwayne Johnson

In April 2017, Diesel cleared the air about his conflicts with Johnson — and appeared to squash the rumored beef with his costar — in an interview withUSA Today. “I don’t think the world really realizes how close we are, in a weird way,” hetold the outlet.

“I think some things may be blown out of proportion. I don’t think that was his intention,” Diesel said. “I know he appreciates how much I work this franchise. In my house, he’s Uncle Dwayne.”

Diesel added that protecting the franchise extends to his relationship with Johnson.

“I protect the franchise. I protect everybody including Dwayne. I protected Dwayne more than he’ll ever know. And it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t have to know. But he appreciates it. He knows it,” he said. “Dwayne has only got one Vin in his life. Dwayne Johnson only has one big brother in this film world and that’s me.”

June 2021: Vin Diesel admits showing Dwayne Johnson “tough love”

Vin Diesel attends the premiere of Sony Pictures' ‘Bloodshot’ on March 10, 2020, in Los Angeles, Calif.Phillip Faraone/FilmMagic

Phillip Faraone/FilmMagic

In a June 2021 interview withMen’s Health, Diesel admitted to using “tough love” on set when it came to Johnson’s portrayal of hisFast & Furiouscharacter, federal agentLuke Hobbs.

“It was a tough character to embody, the Hobbs character,” Dieseltold the magazine. “My approach at the time was a lot of tough love to assist in getting that performance where it needed to be.”

He added: “I could give a lot of tough love. Not Felliniesque, but I would do anything I’d have to do in order to get performances in anything I’m producing.”

July 21, 2021: Dwayne Johnson departsFast & Furiousfranchise

Speaking toThe Hollywood Reporterin July 2021, Johnson revealed he would not be returning to the main franchise and that his appearance inThe Fate of the Furiouswould be his last.

“I’ve wished them well,” he toldTHR. “I wish them well onFast 9. And I wish them the best of luck onFast 10andFast 11and the rest of theFast & Furiousmovies they do that will be without me.”

October 12, 2021: Dwayne Johnson responds to Vin Diesel’s “tough love” comment

“I’ve been around the block a lot of times. Unlike [Diesel], I did not come from the world of theater,” he added. “And, you know, I came up differently and was raised differently.”

Johnson continued: “And I came from a completely different culture and environment. And I go into every project giving it my all. And if I feel that there’s some things that need to be squared away and handled and taken care of, then I do it. And it’s just that simple. So when I read that, just like everybody else, I laughed. I laughed hard. We all laughed. And somewhere I’m sure Fellini is laughing too.”

TheRed Noticestar also opened up about the low-key meeting he had with Diesel in his trailer on the set ofThe Fate of the Furiousfollowing his 2016 Instagram post.

“I wouldn’t call it a peaceful meeting. I would call it a meeting of clarity,” Johnson toldVanity Fair. “He and I had a good chat in my trailer, and it was out of that chat that it really became just crystal clear that we are two separate ends of the spectrum. And agreed to leave it there.”

Johnson — who added that he and Diesel are “philosophically two different people” — also shot down some of his costar’s claims about their relationship, including his 2017 comment toUSA Today, in which Diesel told the outlet he “protected Dwayne more than he’ll ever know” and called himself Johnson’s “big brother in the film world.”

Clapping back, Johnson said: “I have one big brother and it’s my half brother. And that’s it.”

November 7, 2021: Vin Diesel begs Dwayne Johnson to return to theFast & Furiousfranchise

On Nov. 7, 2021, Diesel sharedan Instagram postin which he implored Johnson to rejoin hisFast & Furiouscastmates for the series’ 10th film.

December 2021: Dwayne Johnson calls out Vin Diesel’s “manipulation”

In a CNN interview published in December 2021, Johnson addressed an Instagram post that Diesel made a month prior in which he publicly asked Johnson to return to the hit movie series.

“I was firm yet cordial with my words and said that I would always be supportive of the cast and always root for the franchise to be successful, but that there was no chance I would return,” he said. “I privately spoke with my partners at Universal as well, all of whom were very supportive as they understand the problem.”

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Johnson also called the plea “an example” of Diesel’s “manipulation.”

“I didn’t like that he brought up his children in the post, as well asPaul Walker’s death. Leave them out of it,” he said. “We had spoken months ago about this and came to a clear understanding. My goal all along was to end my amazing journey with this incredibleFast & Furiousfranchise with gratitude and grace.”

Johnson concluded on the matter: “It’s unfortunate that this public dialogue has muddied the waters. Regardless, I’m confident in theFastuniverse and its ability to consistently deliver for the audience, and I truly wish my former costars and crew members the best of luck and success in the next chapter.”

May 2023: Dwayne Johnson makes a cameo inFast X

From left: Nathalie Emmanuel, Tyrese Gibson, Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel present the trailer for ‘The Fate of the Furious’ in N.Y.C. in 2016.Marion Curtis/Starpix/Shutterstock

Marion Curtis/Starpix/Shutterstock

In May 2023,Fast & Furiousfans received the surprise of their lives when Johnsonmade a cameo appearancein apost-credits scenein 2023’sFast X. For many, the gesture seemed to signal Johnson and Diesel’s ongoing feud had finally come to an end.

Apparently, it was director Louis Leterrier who facilitated the “peace treaty” between the two stars.

“We sort of looked at each other from across the room and winked a few months back, saying, ‘We should work together.’ And then I had this idea and I presented it to the producers and the studio,” LeterriertoldThe Hollywood Reporter.

He continued: “And then we reached out to Dwayne and his team, and said, ‘Just come and watch the movie. You have to love the movie first.’ So, he came to see the movie and really loved it, and then we started talking. It was very smooth.”

June 1, 2023: Dwayne Johnson officially returns toFast & Furiousfranchise, announces Luke Hobbs spinoff

Dwayne Johnson at the 95th annual Academy Awards held at Ovation Hollywood on March 12, 2023, in Los Angeles, Calif.Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

On June 1, 2023, theBlack Adamstar confirmed his return to theFast & Furiousfranchise. “Yes, it is true. Hobbs is back,” Johnson said inan Instagram video.

Putting his past conflicts with Diesel to rest, he said: “Despite us having our differences, me and Vin, we’ve been like brothers for years, and despite our differences, when you lead with — number one, resolve — but also you think about the future and plans that are much bigger than ourselves.”

“Those bigger plans are the buildouts,” Johnson added. “They are the North Star.”

In addition to his reprisal as Luke Hobbs,VarietyreportedJohnson’s character would be getting his own standalone film, which he will co-produce alongside franchise screenwriter Chris Morgan. The spinoff will connect the events ofFast Xand 2025’sFast X: Part II, the franchise’s 12th film.

January 5, 2025: Vin Diesel gives Dwayne Johnson a shout-out at the 2025 Golden Globes

When Diesel took the stage to present the award for film cinematic and box office achievement at the 2025 Golden Globes, he first looked over to where Johnson was sitting. “Hi Dwayne…” he said, smiling.

source: people.com