Family is the most important theme in the Fast and Furious franchise, trumping fast cars, exposed biceps, and the charming banter. That was proven once more in heartwarming fashion when Vin Diesel walked Meadow Walker, daughter of the late Paul Walker, down the aisle at her October 22 wedding.
Paul Walker died in a November 2013 car accident, which was devastating for his Fast cast members, particularly Diesel. The pair had been working together for more than a decade and were personally close. Diesel is Meadow’s godfather, and he even named his six-year-old Pauline after Walker.
In a June interview with E!, Diesel spoke about the loss of Walker and how it affected the franchise. Though he hasn’t been featured directly in any films since Furious 7, Walker’s character Brian O’Conner still exists in the film’s universe. (Diesel also intimated that it was possible Meadow could eventually be part of the F&F franchise, though he didn’t say anything definitive).
“When the tragedy happened back in 2013, we stopped filming Furious 7 for about five months because we were wrapping our heads around what we were going to do, while mourning. And the studio accepted a bold decision, which was to allow the character to exist in our mythology,” Diesel said. “And to that end alone, you have to honor that. On a personal level, we started this franchise together. Alongside us starting the franchise, we started a brotherhood. Our brotherhood will outlast the franchise.”
Diesel also spoke to Extra about his relationship with Meadow during the press run around F9.
“She’s the first person on Father’s Day to wish me Happy Father’s Day,” Diesel said. “To see her with my children is one of the most beautiful things. There are moments when I see her playing with Pauline and it hits me so deep ’cause I can only imagine what my brother sees when he sees that.”
Walker, 22, is a successful model and also runs the Paul Walker Foundation, which focuses in part on doing good for the ocean and aquatic life, a passion of her father’s. She married Louis Thornton-Allan.
While there has been plenty of coverage of Diesel and Meadow Walker, the latter may have summed up the emotions best in her Instagram caption: a simple, succinct “ayooooo.”