A native of New York City, VIN DIESEL (Dominic Toretto/Produced by) has become one of Hollywood’s most sought-after film stars. In addition to his huge box-office success, Diesel is a prominent producer and filmmaker. Later this year, Diesel will star in The Last Witch Hunter, which he also produced. He most recently headlined and produced the third chapter in The Chronicles of Riddick franchise, Riddick.
In 2013, Diesel was seen in Fast & Furious 6, the sixth installment of the blockbuster Fast & Furious franchise, as well as Fast Five (2011) and Fast & Furious (2009). He wore multiple hats on all three projects as he reprised his role as Dominic Toretto and produced the films, along with Neal H. Moritz. He also wrote and directed the original short film Los Bandoleros. The short, which was showcased on the Fast & Furious DVD, tells the intriguing backstory of the characters and events leading up to the explosive oil-truck heist in the film.
Another endeavor in Diesel’s entrepreneurial rise was the creation of his successful video-game company, Tigon Studios, which created and produced 2004’s top-selling Xbox game, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay.
Diesel previously starred alongside Michelle Yeoh in 20th Century Fox’s Babylon A.D., for director Mathieu Kassovitz. In the thriller, Diesel played a veteran-turned-mercenary who takes the high-risk job of escorting a woman from Russia to China. He is unaware that she is carrying an organism that a cult wants to harvest to produce a genetically modified messiah.
Diesel was also seen in the courtroom drama Find Me Guilty, directed by renowned filmmaker Sidney Lumet. Set in the ’80s, the film documents the famous three-year trial of 20 members of a mob family. Diesel earned critical acclaim for his portrayal of Jackie DiNorscio, the one mobster who chose to forgo his rights to an attorney and defended himself. To play this role, Diesel transformed himself into the 47-year-old Italian mobster by putting on 20 pounds.
Diesel will play the title role in Hannibal the Conqueror, which tells the story of the Carthaginian general who rode an elephant across the Alps to attack Rome in the third century B.C. In addition to this film, Diesel’s One Race Films will produce Hannibal the Barbarian, a children’s animated series based on the stories of Hannibal, for the BET network. Diesel’s future projects include Touchstone Pictures’ Player’s Rule. The film, written by Ron Bass and Jen Smolka, will be Diesel’s first role as the lead in a romantic comedy. Diesel will star in The Wheelman, which is in development with MTV Films, Paramount Pictures and One Race Films. Diesel’s Tigon Studios and Midway Games will collaborate to release the film and video game simultaneously.
Diesel starred in his first comedy feature for Disney, The Pacifier, opposite Faith Ford, Brad Garrett, Lauren Graham and Brittany Snow. The 2005 film, directed by Adam Shankman, followed an undercover agent who, after failing to protect an important government scientist, learns that the scientist’s family is in danger. In an effort to redeem himself, he agrees to take care of the man’s children—only to discover that child care is his toughest mission yet. The Pacifier was a huge box-office success.
In the highly anticipated science-fiction feature The Chronicles of Riddick, Diesel reprised the title role of Richard B. Riddick. Produced by One Race Films, it was the follow-up to the cult favorite Pitch Black. Diesel previously starred in the action-thriller A Man Apart, which he also produced.
Topping Diesel’s list of credits is his star turn in 2001’s The Fast and the Furious, for which he won an MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Team, along with co-star Paul Walker, and was nominated for Best Male Performance. He starred in the blockbuster XXX, which he also executive produced. Diesel appeared in Saving Private Ryan, for which he was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the film’s ensemble cast. His other credits include Boiler Room and the voice of the title character in The Iron Giant, which won an Annie Award for Best Animated Feature.
Diesel wrote, produced, directed and starred in the independent short Multi-Facial, which explored the issue of being multiracial in today’s society. The film follows Diesel, whose biological mother is Caucasian and biological father is African-American, on several auditions in which he is told he is either “too black” or “too white” for the part. It was after seeing this short at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival that director Steven Spielberg created the role of Private Adrian Caparzo in Saving Private Ryan specifically for Diesel.
Diesel wrote, produced, directed and starred in the full-length feature Strays, which he described as a “multicultural Saturday Night Fever.” The drama was selected to compete at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival.
Having captured the attention of audiences and industry execs alike with his undeniable on-screen presence, PAUL WALKER (Brian O’Conner) has managed a balance of successful box-office films, dramatic roles and documentaries to elevate his leap to leading-man status on the big screen. Apart from headlining the box-office hit Fast & Furious 6, opposite Vin Diesel, Walker was most recently seen in the post-Hurricane Katrina suspense-thriller Hours, which he executive produced. Hours premiered at the 2013 SXSW Film Conference & Festival and received positive reviews for both the film and Walker’s performance.
Additionally, Walker formed Laguna Ridge Pictures, a film production company, with a multi-picture production deal with Universal Pictures, to further expand his producing efforts.
Walker’s action crime-drama Brick Mansions was released posthumously in Spring 2014 by Relativity Media. He previously starred in Fast Five and Fast & Furious, the fifth and fourth installments of the blockbuster franchise; and co-starred alongside Matt Dillon and Hayden Christensen in Screen Gems’ crime-action movie Takers.
In November 2009, Walker was seen on National Geographic Channel’s Expedition Great White, a documentary devoted to exploring the dangers of one of nature’s most challenging and perilous creatures. Walker teamed up with marine biologists to journey off the coast of Baja California, in order to track how these SUV-sized predators live.
Walker has displayed his versatility by continuously transforming on-screen. He portrayed a soldier in Clint Eastwood’s World War II drama Flags of our Fathers, for Paramount Pictures in 2006. That same year, he starred in Disney’s box-office hit Eight Below, directed by Frank Marshall, portraying Jerry Shepard, a lead research scientist who was forced to abandon his team of sled dogs. In Running Scared, a thriller written and directed by Wayne Kramer (The Cooler), Walker starred with Vera Farmiga. He portrayed a desperate father trying to protect his son after a tangle-up with the mob in a cop shooting. Walker starred opposite Jessica Alba in the action-thriller Into the Blue, for director John Stockwell. He starred alongside Susan Sarandon, Penélope Cruz, Robin Williams and Alan Arkin in Chazz Palminteri’s 2004 directorial debut, Noel, about a group of New Yorkers who come together on Christmas Eve.
In 2003, Walker co-starred in director Richard Donner’s adaptation of Michael Crichton’s novel “Timeline” and starred in John Singleton’s 2 Fast 2 Furious, which grossed more than $127 million at the box office. In 2001, Walker starred in The Fast and the Furious, the first film in the franchise. Later that year, he starred opposite Steve Zahn and Leelee Sobieski in 20th Century Fox’s critically praised thriller Joy Ride, which was directed by John Dahl.
Walker’s additional credits include the box-office hit The Skulls, directed by Rob Cohen; the football dramedy Varsity Blues; the critically acclaimed film Pleasantville, from writer/director Gary Ross; Miramax’s She’s All That; Brokedown Palace; and The Death and Life of Bobby Z.
With film revenues exceeding $2 billion worldwide, DWAYNE JOHNSON (Hobbs) has solidified himself as a global box-office powerhouse in both film and television.
Always adding to his busy schedule, Johnson shows no sign of slowing down with a slew of tentpole movies hitting theaters in 2015. In addition to Furious 7, he stars in the event film San Andreas, for Warner Bros. Pictures, where he plays a rescue-chopper pilot who makes a dangerous journey across California to find his daughter in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. Johnson is also set to star in Central Intelligence, for New Line Cinema; the big screen adaptation of Bay Watch; as well as The Janson Directive, for Universal Pictures. This year, Johnson will also be transitioning to the small screen for the HBO series Ballers, directed by Peter Berg, about a group of football players dealing with their friends, families and handlers.
Johnson’s most recent film credits include Paramount Pictures’ Hercules, directed by Brett Ratner, where Johnson took on the title role; the dramatic thriller Snitch, about a father who goes undercover for the DEA in order to free his imprisoned son; the comic-book action- adventure G.I. Joe: Retaliation, the second installment of the franchise, opposite Bruce Willis and Channing Tatum; the dramatic independent film Empire State, with Liam Hemsworth and Emma Roberts; Pain & Gain, alongside Mark Wahlberg; and the most recent Fast & Furious franchise films, Fast Five and Fast & Furious 6, which grossed a combined $1.4 billion globally.
Johnson’s previous films include Race to Witch Mountain; The Tooth Fairy; Planet 51; Get Smart; The Game Plan; Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, which grossed more than $335 million worldwide; Be Cool, MGM’s sequel to Get Shorty, alongside John Travolta, Uma Thurman and Vince Vaughn; the 2004 remake Walking Tall; and Universal Pictures’ The Rundown, a critically acclaimed action-comedy directed by Peter Berg and that co-starred Seann William Scott, Rosario Dawson and Christopher Walken.
Johnson has garnered much critical acclaim and recognition for his range and diverse roles. In 2008, Entertainment Weekly placed Johnson on “Hollywood’s Next A-List,” alongside Robert Downey Jr., Ellen Page, James McAvoy and Amy Adams.
Johnson’s love of acting and desire to branch out led him to appear on Saturday Night Live in March 2000, surprising many with his comedic strengths; the episode garnered the show’s highest rating that year. Johnson was subsequently cast by Stephen Sommers in The Mummy Returns, which grossed more than $400 million worldwide. His character was so well- received by Universal Pictures’ executives during dailies that they immediately planned a film based on his character, The Scorpion King, which broke box-office records in 2002 as the biggest April opening of all time.
Born in San Francisco and raised in Hawaii, Johnson excelled as a high school All- American and subsequently as a star defensive lineman for the University of Miami Hurricanes, helping to lead his team to overcome huge hurdles and become national champions. Upon graduating from the University of Miami, Johnson followed in the footsteps of his WWE Hall of Fame father, Rocky Johnson, and grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, by joining the competitive sports entertainment world of the WWE. Within a seven-year period (1996-2003), his intense passion led to an extraordinarily successful career breaking box-office attendance records across the U.S. and setting pay-per-view buy-rate records during that time as well. Johnson created The Rock, which became one of the most charismatic and dynamic characters in the industry. In March 2012, Johnson made a record-breaking return to the WWE, crushing John Cena at WrestleMania XXVIII in Miami.
Not content to remain only in front of the camera, Johnson penned an autobiography, “The Rock Says,” which reached No. 1 on The New York Times Best-Seller List shortly after its publication in January 2000.
In 2006, Johnson created The Rock Foundation, whose mission is to “educate, empower and motivate children worldwide through health and physical fitness.” A dedicated philanthropist, Johnson is the current national spokesperson for the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s Diabetes Aware campaign. He is also a member of The American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet and serves as a National Celebrity Wish Ambassador for the Make- A-Wish Foundation of America. In 2008, the United States Joint Leadership Commission recognized Johnson with the prestigious Horizon Award, which is given to an individual in the private sector who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and provided opportunities for youth nationwide.
MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ (Letty) is a versatile actress known for her ability to combine her physicality with a natural beauty and unforced sex appeal.
Born Mayte Michelle Rodriguez in Bexar County, Texas, Rodriguez worked as an extra for two years to satisfy her curiosity about filmmaking. After that, she decided to pursue acting and landed her first audition from an ad she spotted in Backstage West. Soon after, she landed a role in the hit indie film Girlfight. The role garnered Rodriguez numerous awards and much critical acclaim. This success launched her as a young star quickly on the rise in Hollywood.
Still going strong off the success of her acting debut, Rodriguez co-starred opposite Danny Glover in the Showtime feature drama 3 A.M. and Universal Pictures’ adrenaline-charged mega-hit The Fast and the Furious, opposite Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. She rejoined the Fast & Furious franchise in 2009 for its fourth installment, Fast & Furious, and again in the blockbuster hit Fast & Furious 6.
Rodriguez most recently lent her voice in David Soren’s animated feature Turbo, alongside Ryan Reynolds, Michael Peña and Paul Giamatti, and returned as Luz in Robert Rodriguez’s Machete Kills, the sequel to the action feature Machete. Her other feature-film credits include Battle in Seattle, opposite Charlize Theron; Blue Crush, which co-starred Kate Bosworth; the summer blockbuster S.W.A.T., opposite Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Farrell; Control, with Ray Liotta; James Cameron’s record-breaking sci-fi epic Avatar; the sci-fi action flick Battle: Los Angeles, opposite Aaron Eckhart; and Resident Evil: Retribution in addition to the first film in the series, Resident Evil, opposite Milla Jovovich.
An avid video-game fan who has since lent her voice to various popular games, including Call of Duty: Black Ops II, True Crime: Streets of LA, Driv3r and Halo 2, Rodriguez jumped at the opportunity to take a role in Resident Evil, an adaptation of the hit game series.
In 2010, Rodriguez starred in and co-produced Trópico de Sangre, in association with her production company Cheshire Kat. Perhaps most notably, Rodriguez also starred in the massively successful ABC television series Lost.
TYRESE GIBSON (Roman) was born and raised in Watts, California, a section of South Central Los Angeles. Gibson discovered a love of music at an early age and released his self-titled debut album at the age of 19. Soon after, he received an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist in 2000. In addition to his music career, Gibson has found success in both acting and modeling and appeared in numerous television series and commercials, through an exclusive contract with Guess? and designer Tommy Hilfiger.
Gibson made his motion-picture debut as the star of John Singleton’s Baby Boy and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for his role as Joseph Summers. He again worked with director Singleton on 2 Fast 2 Furious.
Gibson was recently seen in the third installment of the Transformers franchise, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and Universal Pictures’ box-office hit Fast & Furious 6, as well as Black Nativity, opposite Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett and Jennifer Hudson.
Universal Pictures has optioned Desert Eagle, an action spec scripted by Gibson and Mike Le, in which a pair of border patrol agents investigate a drug cartel being operated out of a Native American reservation casino. Gibson will star in and executive produce through his Voltron Filmz, alongside Scott Stuber (Ted, Ted 2), who will produce via his Bluegrass Films banner. Gibson will next co-star with Jake Gyllenhaal in the Antoine Fuqua-directed Southpaw and opposite Kevin Hart and Ice Cube in the Tim Story-directed Ride Along 2. His final studio album, Black Rose, will be released May 5.
Gibson’s other credits include Fast Five; Michael Bay’s blockbuster Transformers and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen; Paul W.S. Anderson’s sci-fi thriller Death Race, with Jason Statham, Joan Allen and Ian McShane; the horror-action film Legion, alongside Dennis Quaid and Paul Bettany; Brad Furman’s crime drama The Take, opposite John Leguizamo and Rosie Perez; Flight of the Phoenix; Singleton’s Four Brothers, which co-starred Mark Wahlberg and André Benjamin; Annapolis, directed by Justin Lin; and Vondie Curtis-Hall’s Waist Deep. Gibson is also an executive producer of the web series K-Town and Roll Models for Ben Silverman’s Electus.
Gibson’s motivational book, “How to Get Out of Your Own Way,” published by Grand Central Publishing, was released on April 7, 2011. In 2013, he released “Manology: Secrets of Your Man’s Mind Revealed,” which he co-wrote with Run-D.M.C.’s DJ Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons.
The career of the multitalented CHRIS “LUDACRIS” BRIDGES (Tej) can best be described as remarkable. As a recording artist, Bridges has sold more than 15 million albums domestically thanks to the blockbuster success of such singles as “Stand Up,” “Get Back,” “Southern Hospitality,” “Number One Spot,” “Money Maker” and “My Chick Bad.” All of these records were accompanied by ingenious videos that demonstrated Bridges’ far-reaching imagination and his willingness to stretch the boundaries of what rap videos should look and feel like.
With an unrivaled match of lyrical acumen, wit and imagery, Bridges has solidified himself as one of music’s premier entertainers. Although he’s best known for his infectious tunes, Ludacris has shown that he’s equally adept at writing powerful songs with serious subject matter, including runaways with the song “Runaway Love.” Bridges’ versatility and artistic complexity also enabled him to make a seamless transition to acting.
Most recently, he appeared in Fast & Furious 6, the sixth installment in the global box- office hit franchise. His other feature-film credits include Garry Marshall’s ensemble comedy New Year’s Eve; Universal Pictures’ Fast Five; and Ivan Reitman’s romantic comedy No Strings Attached, opposite Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman. His acclaimed performances in film (Crash, Hustle & Flow) and television (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) have Hollywood and critics alike buzzing about his increasingly impressive screen resume. Stepping back into the studio, he is preparing to release his eighth album, Ludaversal, on March 31.
A consummate businessman, Ludacris is enjoying success outside entertainment. His latest venture includes a highly anticipated new restaurant coming soon to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. His philanthropic efforts rival his entertainment accomplishments. He partnered with Crash writer/director Paul Haggis and Artists for Peace and Justice to help raise more than $4 million for Haitian relief efforts. In addition, he has raised more than $100,000 for Atlanta flood victims through The Ludacris Foundation. Having partnered with Jane Fonda, Bill Gates, Richard Branson and Nelson Mandela, to name a few, the foundation continues to inspire youth through education.
JORDANA BREWSTER’s (Mia Toretto) talent, beauty and natural screen presence have etched her a permanent place in Hollywood in both film and television. Brewster was recently seen as Elena Ramos in TNT’s revival of Dallas. Her most recent film credits include Home Sweet Hell and American Heist, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2014.
In 2013, Brewster reprised her role of Mia in Fast & Furious 6, which broke box-office records becoming the highest-grossing film in the Fast & Furious franchise. She was also seen in 2011’s Fast Five and 2009’s Fast & Furious. Some of Brewster’s past credits include small- screen roles in TNT’s Dark Blue, NBC’s Chuck and the lead role in the 2007 ABC pilot Mr. and Mrs. Smith. She starred in Justin Lin’s Annapolis, opposite James Franco, and Nearing Grace, an indie film adapted from Scott Sommer’s novel that premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival in 2005.
In 2006, Brewster starred in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, directed by Jonathan Liebesman for New Line Cinema. She was seen in the Sundance Film Festival hit based on Angela Robinson’s comedy short, D.E.B.S., which was released by Samuel Goldwyn Films in March 2005. Prior to that, Brewster starred in Universal Pictures’ box-office hit The Fast and the Furious, for director Rob Cohen, and the science-fiction thriller The Faculty, for director Robert Rodriguez. Brewster starred alongside Cameron Diaz, Blythe Danner and Christopher Eccleston in The Invisible Circus, for director Adam Brooks, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2001. She received critical praise for her work in the highly rated NBC miniseries The ’60s.
Brewster sharpened her acting skills on the Daytime Emmy Award-winning series As the World Turns, during which she divided her time between high school and her role as Nikki Munson on the drama. She took some time off after The Fast and the Furious to attend Yale University, and graduated in 2003 with a degree in English.
Brewster has lived in Brazil, England and New York, and currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband and son.
Born and raised in the United Kingdom, NATHALIE EMMANUEL (Ramsey) landed her first role on the professional stage at the age of 10, when she starred in the original London cast of The Lion King as Young Nala. Emmanuel then went on to play the role of Sasha Valentine on Channel 4’s popular soap Hollyoaks. Since then, she has continued working on a number of British television shows, including the BAFTA Award-winning series Misfits.
Emmanuel can currently be seen playing the role of Missandei on the critically acclaimed HBO series Game of Thrones, which is in production on its fifth season. Furious 7 marks Emmanuel’s U.S. feature-film debut. She will next be seen in Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, the highly anticipated sequel to The Maze Runner that is set for release on September 18.
KURT RUSSELL (Mr. Nobody), who has delivered memorable comedic and dramatic film performances since 1962, was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and started his acting career at the age of 10. Russell worked with director John Carpenter on Escape From New York and Escape From L.A., in the role of Snake Plisskin. He also worked with Carpenter on the acclaimed telefilm Elvis, for which Russell received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination, and the features The Thing and Big Trouble in Little China.
Russell’s most recent feature-film credits include The Art of the Steal, opposite Matt Dillon and Terence Stamp, and Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof. He will next be seen in Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight, opposite Channing Tatum and Samuel L. Jackson.
Russell’s past starring roles include Mike Nichols’ Silkwood; Robert Zemeckis’ Used Cars; Jonathan Demme’s Swing Shift; Garry Marshall’s Overboard; Tequila Sunrise; Tango & Cash; Ron Howard’s Backdraft; Tombstone; Stargate; Executive Decision; Breakdown and Soldier. He has also starred in The Mean Season, The Best of Times, Winter People, Captain Ron, Unlawful Entry, Dark Blue, Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story, Vanilla Sky and Poseidon.
Russell’s long association with Walt Disney Studios has spanned nearly 40 years. He completed 15 films, including Follow Me, Boys!, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, The Barefoot Executive, The Fox and the Hound, Miracle and Sky High. Additionally, he appeared in several episodes of The Wonderful World of Disney. Other television credits include the films Amber Waves and The Deadly Tower, in which Russell portrayed the Texas murderer Charles Whitman.
JASON STATHAM (Deckard Shaw), an international star best known for his hard- hitting action films, most recently starred in the Simon West crime drama Wild Card; The Expendables 3, the third installment of the worldwide box-office hit franchise, this time joined by Mel Gibson, Antonio Banderas and Harrison Ford; and Homefront, which was written by Sylvester Stallone, opposite James Franco and Kate Bosworth. He will next be seen in Paul Feig’s comedy Spy, opposite Melissa McCarthy.
Statham’s other recent film credits include Steven Knight’s Redemption (originally Hummingbird); Parker, opposite Jennifer Lopez; and The Expendables 2, in which he reprised his role as Lee Christmas. Born in Sydenham, England, Statham became a member of the British national diving team as one of its top divers, eventually placing 12th at the World Championships. While he trained at the famed Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in London, film crews and photographers pursued him as new talent.
Statham eventually met director Guy Ritchie who cast him in the role of Bacon in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, the feature-film debut for both of them. Statham teamed up with Ritchie again for Snatch, in which he starred opposite Brad Pitt and Benicio Del Toro. French film impresario Luc Besson trusted Statham in the lead role of Frank Martin in The Transporter. Statham went on to star in the blockbuster remake of The Italian Job, Crank, Transporter 2 and Transporter 3, Roger Donaldson’s The Bank Job, Death Race, Crank: High Voltage, Stallone’s The Expendables, The Mechanic, Blitz, Killer Elite and Boaz Yakin’s Safe.
