5 Shocking Ways Vin Diesel And Dwayne Johnson Finally Buried Their Nine-Year 'Candy Ass' Feud

The most notorious feud in Hollywood's biggest action franchise is officially over. As of late 2024 and early 2025, the long-standing, highly public beef between *Fast Saga* titans Vin Diesel and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has been definitively squashed, culminating in a series of surprising public acknowledgments and a major cinematic reunion. This nine-year saga of passive-aggressive social media posts, cryptic interviews, and on-set tension—famously dubbed the "candy ass" conflict—has finally reached a peace treaty, much to the relief of Universal Pictures and the global fanbase. The resolution comes at a critical time for the franchise, which is gearing up for its grand finale, *Fast XI*. The dramatic shift in their relationship, from bitter rivals to public praisers, has paved the way for Johnson's character, Luke Hobbs, to return to the main storyline, ensuring the *Fast Saga* concludes with its full complement of stars. The recent developments offer a fascinating look at how two of the world's biggest action stars managed to put aside their differences for the sake of the 'family'—both on-screen and off.

The Public Timeline: Five Moments That Ended the Feud

The rivalry between Vin Diesel (Dominic Toretto) and Dwayne Johnson (Luke Hobbs) began subtly during the production of 2017's *The Fate of the Furious* (*F8*), but it exploded into the public sphere with Johnson's now-infamous "candy ass" Instagram post. For years, the two actors maintained a professional distance, with Johnson even stating he would never return to the main franchise. However, a series of high-profile, recent events has completely rewritten that narrative.

1. The Surprise Return in 'Fast X'

The first major sign that the ice was thawing came not from a public statement, but from the silver screen. In a shocking, unannounced post-credits scene for *Fast X* (2023), Dwayne Johnson reprised his role as DSS Agent Luke Hobbs. This cameo immediately signaled a significant, behind-the-scenes reconciliation. The scene set up Hobbs as a direct target of the villain Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa), tying him directly back into the core narrative and bridging his spin-off character back to the main *Fast Saga*.

2. Vin Diesel’s Unexpected Praise for 'The Smashing Machine'

In a move that caught the industry off guard, Vin Diesel took to Instagram in November 2024 to publicly praise Dwayne Johnson. Diesel shared a photo of the two men together and focused his attention on Johnson’s performance as UFC fighter Mark Kerr in the upcoming film *The Smashing Machine*. Diesel’s post was a direct and warm acknowledgment of Johnson's acting talent outside of the action genre, something that had been conspicuously absent during the height of their feud. He took a moment to "celebrate Dwayne," effectively burying the hatchet and putting an end to the years-long tension.

3. The 'Hey, Dwayne' Moment at the 2025 Golden Globes

The most talked-about public interaction occurred at the 2025 Golden Globes. While presenting an award, Vin Diesel paused, looked toward the audience, and casually offered a "Hey, Dwayne." Johnson smiled in return, creating a brief, yet highly scrutinized, moment of on-camera interaction. While some observers described the exchange as "awkward" and a "petty gesture," the consensus among fans and entertainment reporters was that it was a clear, public acknowledgment of a truce. Diesel later shared a picture of himself with Johnson, further shutting down any lingering feud rumors.

4. The Announcement of a New Hobbs-Centric Bridge Film

Following the *Fast X* cameo, Universal and Dwayne Johnson officially announced a new, untitled *Fast & Furious* film. This isn't *Hobbs & Shaw 2*, but a separate project designed to bridge the gap between the events of *Fast X* and the final installment, *Fast XI* (or *Fast 11*). This move is significant because it allows the character of Luke Hobbs to be fully integrated back into the main storyline, setting up his role in the conclusion of the *Fast Saga* without immediately forcing the two actors onto the same set for a full production run. It’s a strategic move to satisfy both the creative needs of the story and the logistical demands of the stars.

5. Johnson’s Commitment to the 'Fast Saga' Finale

With the bridge film confirmed, Dwayne Johnson’s commitment to the franchise is now solidified. He is expected to play a crucial role in the final chapter, *Fast XI*, which is slated to be the conclusion of the core story arc that began with the original 2001 film. The return of Luke Hobbs for the finale ensures that the 'family' is truly united for their most dangerous mission yet, facing off against the formidable Dante Reyes. This commitment puts an end to years of speculation that the franchise would have to finish without one of its most popular characters.

The Lingering Question: How Does This Impact 'Fast XI'?

The reconciliation between the two action powerhouses carries massive implications for the final film in the main series, *Fast XI*. The core of the *Fast Saga* is 'family,' and the real-life tension between its two biggest stars had become a major distraction. * A United 'Family': The return of Luke Hobbs means that Dominic Toretto’s crew—which includes fan favorites like Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez), Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson), Tej Parker (Chris "Ludacris" Bridges), and Han Lue (Sung Kang)—will be at full strength. This unity is essential for the narrative's emotional resonance as they face their final adversary. * Creative Freedom: With the feud resolved, the writers and director (likely Louis Leterrier) have full creative freedom to use both Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson in scenes together. This was a major constraint during the filming of *The Fate of the Furious*. * The Future of Hobbs: While the core saga is ending, the *Hobbs & Shaw* spin-off franchise remains a possibility. The success of the bridge film and the renewed working relationship could pave the way for a true *Hobbs & Shaw 2* or other character-focused spin-offs featuring Agent Hobbs. The public truce, solidified by the Golden Globes shout-out and the Instagram praise, has shifted the focus from the behind-the-scenes drama back to the high-octane action and emotional core that defines the *Fast & Furious* universe. The final chapter is now set to be the biggest and most complete family reunion the franchise has ever seen.

Key Entities and Topical Authority in the Fast Saga

The story of the feud and reconciliation is deeply tied to the history and major players of the *Fast & Furious* universe. The following entities are central to understanding the dynamic between Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson:

• Dominic Toretto: Vin Diesel's character, the patriarch of the 'family' and the protagonist since 2001.
• Luke Hobbs: Dwayne Johnson's character, introduced in *Fast Five*, a DSS agent turned ally.
• Fast X: The 2023 installment that featured Johnson's surprise return in the post-credits scene.
• Fast XI (Fast 11): The upcoming final chapter of the main saga.
• The Smashing Machine: The biographical film starring Dwayne Johnson that Vin Diesel publicly praised.
• Dante Reyes: The main antagonist, played by Jason Momoa, whose actions necessitate Hobbs' return.
• The Fate of the Furious (F8): The film where the feud became publicly known, leading to the actors filming their scenes separately.
• Hobbs & Shaw: The 2019 spin-off film starring Johnson and Jason Statham.
• Universal Pictures: The studio behind the massively successful action franchise.
• Tyrese Gibson: Another key cast member (Roman Pearce) who has publicly commented on the feud over the years.
• Louis Leterrier: The director of *Fast X* and the expected director of *Fast XI*.