Vin Diesel stopped Jean-Claude Van Damme from ever starring in any Fast & Furious films

Jean-Claude Van Damme claims Vin Diesel vetoed him from appearing in any of the Fast and Furious movies.

The martial artist may've starred in a whole plethora of action movies, from 1988's Bloodsport to 2012's The Expendables 2, but he is yet to ever appear in any of the Fast and Furious franchise.

And the 63-year-old claims Vin Diesel - who not only starred but also helped produce many of the Fast and Furious movies - is the reason why.

Van Damme has had an impressive career spanned over 30 years, so not quite making the cut for whatever role he was briefly considered for in the franchise hasn't had too much of an impact on him. However, it seems that long in the industry has taken its toll on the action star.

He reflects: "I was like 30 years living in hotels… At one time, yeah, too much away from my family. I finish a movie and go to promote the next one. New one, next one. New one, next one. I became a hotel man. No more home.

"I made 100 movies in different countries, from Europe to Kazakhstan to China to Japan. I shot in Indonesia, Australia, Africa… South Africa, East Africa, West Africa. I became distant.

Getty Images/ Don Arnold/ WireImage

"When you travel a lot you meet lots of people - then the rich people, they want you next to them to take some pictures. They are giving you all sorts of promises. So, you become more aware - not more smart. You start to lose a kind of trust."

Van Damme claims the reason he's not made it into any of the Fast and Furious movies is because of Vin Diesel.

He told The Telegraph: "They want me in Fast and Furious.

"But Vin Diesel said, ‘No, I don’t want him.'"

Foc Kan/ WireImage

Van Damme notes he now makes 'one movie a year' and he's 'kind of [his] own boss' - so he's probably not crying over not making the cut in Fast and Furious.

And the door may be open for Van Damme to return to The Expendables anyway. Sylvester Stallone teased Van Damme could return as Jean Vilain's twin if they wanted to bring him back in after his character was killed off in the second movie.

Van Damme resolves: "This business - the movie business - is not an easy one. [...] I'm a good actor. That's all I know."

UNILAD has contacted Vin Diesel's representatives for comment.

Topics: Vin Diesel, Film and TV, Fast and Furious, Celebrity, US News, World News, Entertainment

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.