LOS ANGELES-Dwayne Johnson has no feelings of remorse after publicly blasting his Fast 8 co-stars. The former wrestler-turned-actor stunned fans in August when he appeared to take aim at his castmates in a social media rant about his male co-stars' bad behaviour behind the camera.
Although he did not name anyone in particular, rumours emerged he was referring to Vin Diesel, and sparking such a huge public interest in behind-the-scenes feuds on the Fast 8 set is not something Dwayne feels sorry about doing.
"I was very clear with what I said," he tells newspaper The Los Angeles Times in an interview. "I've been in the game a long time." The alleged falling out between Johnson and Diesel grabbed international headlines far ahead of the release date set for Fast 8, which is scheduled to reach theatres in April, 2017.
Although Dwayne admits Hollywood movie executives attached to the feature were annoyed when the conflict first entered the news cycle, he reveals film bosses are now singing a different tune about the controversy.
"Would Universal (Pictures bosses) have preferred that didn't happen? Sure, we talked about it," he shares, before noting the feud generated huge levels of exposure for the project. "The irony is after that and as they do their tracking and all their analysis, the interest (in Fast 8) shot through the roof to a whole other level."
Johnson and Diesel star in the forthcoming action film alongside Hollywood heavy-hitters Charlize Theron, Helen Mirren, Jason Statham, Kurt Russell, Scott Eastwood, Tyrese Gibson and Michelle Rodriguez.