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Who would win in a battle between Vin Diesel, Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson? Well, none of the above if it’s on the set of a “Fast & Furious” movie, because they’re all contractually obligated to win their fights.
The Wall Street Journal reports:
“According to producers and crew members on the films, Mr. Statham, 51 years old, negotiated an agreement with the studio that limits how badly he can be beaten up on screen. Mr. Diesel, 52, has his younger sister, a producer on the films, police the number of punches he takes. And Mr. Johnson, 47, enlists producers, editors and fight coordinators to help make sure he always gives as good as he gets.”
These negotiations include constant requests for on-set adjustments to ensure that each man’s character is seen at his best — i.e. most macho — light. Every back-and-forth, punch-for-punch “battle” is purposefully and delicately orchestrated by tireless fight choreographers (and few deus ex machina scenarios, like a missile splitting the concrete between two fighters) to ensure that none of these characters is left looking any weaker — or even the slightest bit vulnerable, for that matter.
Reps from Universal insist, however, that this is not just alpha male behavior for the sake of alpha male behavior; it serves a higher purpose.
An unnamed studio spokesperson told WSJ that the fights are orchestrated in such a way that “every character has their moment, and that all are seen as formidable opponents. Each ‘Fast’ character is a hero to someone watching, and we never forget that.”
Sure, blame it on the audience.
Fans will have to wait until the spring of 2020 for the next “Fast & Furious” installment. However, those in need of a Johnson and Statham fix can catch them both in the franchise’s spinoff “Hobbs & Shaw,” in theaters now — and Diesel will be added to the mix in next year’s sequel. But spoiler alert: we can already be certain there will be no clear winner in the end.