The long-standing, high-profile feud between "Fast & Furious" co-stars Vin Diesel and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson appears to have fully concluded, with Diesel extending an "olive branch" and significant praise to Johnson as anticipation builds for "Fast X: Part 2." Diesel took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message, accompanied by a throwback photo of the two on set, celebrating Johnson's profound impact on the blockbuster franchise and reflecting on their journey from colleagues to rivals and now, seemingly, to allies once more.

In his lengthy caption, Diesel emphasized the value of forged relationships, recalling his first encounter with the real Mark Kerr in 2002 while training for "xXx" – the very individual Johnson is set to portray in his upcoming film, "The Smashing Machine." Diesel wrote, "In a beautiful way, he was there at the beginning of my action career. That’s the kind of friend he’s been from day one." He further lauded Johnson's global perception and his invaluable contributions to the "Fast & Furious" saga. Diesel remembered fans suggesting their on-screen collaboration long before Johnson joined the series, which ultimately led to "one of the most dynamic pairings in cinema — two strong personalities who pushed each other and created something unforgettable. When he stepped into Hobbs, he did it with full commitment and left an indelible mark on Universal’s character hall of fame." Diesel concluded his tribute by commending Johnson’s recent work in "The Smashing Machine," stating, "Dwayne really did it… He brought us back in time and shined doing it."

This public display of reconciliation marks the end of nearly a decade of tension that began escalating in 2016. The feud gained significant media attention when Johnson posted an Instagram message famously calling an unnamed male co-star a "candy ass" and "chicken shit," comments that were quickly attributed to Diesel. Years later, in 2021, Diesel offered his perspective, explaining that "tough love" was the underlying cause of their conflict. He stated his approach was to push Johnson to achieve the intense performance he envisioned for the character of Hobbs, explaining, "Not Felliniesque, but I would do anything I’d have to do in order to get performances in anything I’m producing."

Despite Diesel's public invitation for Johnson to return for "Fast X" in 2021, Johnson initially rejected the offer, asserting he was finished with the franchise. However, in a move that delighted fans and surprised many, Johnson made a dramatic appearance in the "Fast X" mid-credits scene in 2023. This cameo confirmed that the two actors had indeed mended their relationship. Johnson later solidified the reconciliation, tweeting, "Last summer Vin and I put all the past behind us. We’ll lead with brotherhood and resolve — and always take care of the franchise, characters & FANS that we love."

The reconciliation sets the stage for future installments, including the highly anticipated "Fast X: Part 2." "Fast X," released on May 19, 2023, is an action, crime, thriller, adventure, and mystery film with a runtime of 142 minutes. Directed by Louis Leterrier, and written by Justin Lin and Dan Mazeau, it was produced by Jeff Kirschenbaum, Neal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel, and Samantha Vincent. The extensive "Fast and Furious" franchise includes numerous prequels such as "The Fast and the Furious," "2 Fast 2 Furious," "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift," "Fast & Furious," "Fast Five," "Fast & Furious 6," "Furious 7," "Fast and Furious 8," and "F9: The Fast Saga," with "Fast and Furious 11" and "Fast & Furious 12" slated as sequels. The film featured Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto and Michelle Rodriguez as Letty Ortiz among its cast.