All round
Vin Diesel demanded ‘equal number of punches’ while fighting Jason Statham in ‘Fast & Furious’
Dom Toretto isn’t about to lose in a fight.
When Vin Diesel was practicing for his seventh “Fast & Furious” film, he noticed that his co-star and on-screen opponent, Jason Statham, was hitting more punches than he was.
So he proposed implementing a numerical system in which punches, body slams, roundhouse kicks, and head butts all had unique values and could be properly counted to ensure Diesel always came out on top.
The idea was apparently shelved when the crew concluded it was “too complicated,” but it is reportedly one of several times on the Fast & Furious films where performers sought particular favors to protect their about their on-screen pride.
In Hollywood, where protecting action actors’ fragile egos is now a cost of doing business, no leading man is ready to appear less masculine than the next. Nowhere is this more evident than in the “Fast & Furious” series, where Mr. Diesel, Mr. Statham, and their third bulky co-star, Dwayne Johnson, engage in a macho arms race.
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When approached by the WSJ, both Diesel and Statham declined to comment on the allegations, however it is said that Diesel used his sister Samantha Vincent to count punches on site.
“He’s falling down right here. Is he going to get his licks back in?” she allegedly said during the filming of one scenario.
Statham’s contract reportedly includes a restriction on how hard he can be battered on film.
“Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw,” the ninth installment, will be released on Friday.
The core characters in the “Fast & Furious” franchise depict a street racer, a law enforcement officer, and a special-forces assassin who began as enemies and evolved into partners in the face of major threats—usually involving high-speed automobiles and sleeveless shirts.
Fights are staged throughout the series to guarantee that none of the leads seem to be losers, according to Michael Fottrell, a producer on five of the films.
When questioned by the Wall Street Journal whether vanity plays a role in the franchise’s stars losing fights, F&F producer Michael Fottrell answered, “No Comment.”
