Vin Diesel Stopped Jean-Claude Van Damme From Starring in Fast and Furious

Jean-Claude Van Damme could’ve starred in the Fast and Furious franchise; however, Vin Diesel stopped it from happening.

According to a recent article posted by The Daily Telegraph, Van Damme was being eyed for a role in the Fast and Furious franchise. Van Damme didn’t specify which Fast and Furious movie(s), precisely, he would’ve appeared in, or what his role would have entailed, but he never got the opportunity to do so because of Diesel.

“They want me in Fast and Furious,” Van Damme said. “But Vin Diesel said, ‘No, I don’t want him.’”

Van Damme is a martial artist who quickly became a popular action star after playing the lead role in 1988’s Bloodsport. He went on to star in movies such as 1989’s Kickboxer, 1991’s Double Impact, 1992’s Universal Soldier, 1993’s Hard Target, 1994’s Timecop, 1994’s Street Fighter, 1995’s Sudden Death, and many more.

In recent years, Van Damme has starred in 2012’s The Expendables 2, 2016’s Kung Fu Panda 3, 2018’s The Bouncer, and more. He also played a version of himself in an Amazon Studios television series that ran from 2016-2018 titled Jean-Claude Van Johnson.

Who does star in the Fast and Furious movies?

The Fast and Furious franchise, meanwhile, began in 2001 with Rob Cohen’s The Fast and the Furious. Diesel plays the role of Domenic Toretto in the movies, which have also starred Paul Walker, Sung Kang, Michelle Rodriguez, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, John Cena, Jordan Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, and more.

The most recent Fast and Furious movie, Fast X, debuted in United States theaters in May 2023. A direct sequel to Fast X, directed by Louis Leterrier, currently has an April 4, 2025, release date, while a spin-off centered around Johnson and Momoa’s characters is also in the works.