Vin Diesel cries in memory of Paul Walker at Cannes tribute screening

Wine Diesel got emotional in Cannes… holding back tears while honoring his late brother ‘Fast & Furious’ Paul Walker during a special midnight screening of “Fast and Furious.”

The longtime face of the franchise took the stage Wednesday night after the film received a hero’s welcome at the festival…with the crowd inside giving the cast a 4-minute standing ovation as the credits rolled.

Waiting for your permission to load the Twitter Tweet.

Diesel struggled to hold it together while reflecting on his connection to Walker… telling the audience, “I tried to save my brother. At first it was all in the script… this guy with blond hair and blue eyes would be a brother to me. As the years went by, he wanted us to continue the story.”

The actor also wanted to rewatch the original film 25 years later… saying the scenes in the film were different now because he remembers the real-life moments behind them – including when Walker first told him he had a baby girl.

This girl, Meadow walkersat alongside Diesel during the emotional tribute…and the two shared a hug after Vin revealed that she pointed out that she was now the same age as her father was when he made the film.

Diesel also reflected on how the franchise evolved from a street racing film to a global juggernaut…a film that grossed over $7 billion worldwide and turned Dom Toretto’s “family” mantra into one of Hollywood’s most recognizable catchphrases.

Walker deceased in 2013, at the age of 40, in a high-speed car crash in California… a tragedy that shook the franchise and left Diesel to publicly mourn the loss of the man he often called his brother.

The “Fast” saga isn’t over yet either. The anticipated final installment, “Fast Forever,” is set to hit theaters in 2028…bringing the quarter-century-old franchise to the finish line.