“That is a crime of cinema”: After Saving Vin Diesel’s Career With an Oscar Winning Movie, Steven Spielberg Gave Him One Career Altering Advice

Nowadays Vin Diesel is known for playing the larger-than-life action lead in the 2-decade-long Fast and Furious franchise, but the actor initially kickstarted his career behind the lenses. However, it wasn’t until he made an appearance in the star-studded and critically acclaimed Saving Private Ryan, which would put him on the radar, and eventually star in 2001’s The Fast and Furious movie.

But it appears that the Bloodshot actor wasn’t initially considered to star in the 3rd highest-grossing film of 1998, and it was Steven Spielberg who would go on to put the action star on the track.

Vin Diesel

Steven Spielberg gave Vin Diesel the required push through Saving Private Ryan

Before making his way to the top, Vin Diesel would direct and star in two underrated dramas, involving a short film, Multi-Facial, in 1995, and a feature-length film, Strays, in 1997. Although these two projects didn’t put Diesel on the map, they did manage to get the attention of one of the best in business, Steven Spielberg. Even though the Bloodshot actor wasn’t considered to star in Saving Private Ryan, after discovering his talent through Multi-Facial, Spielberg wrote Diesel’s character in the film, which would boost the actor’s career.

However, the Oscar-winning director was not only impressed by the Fast X star’s acting skills in his projects but was also fascinated by the actor’s skill behind the camera. Even though Diesel hasn’t been involved in many projects as a director, Steven Spielberg once advised him to direct more movies.

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Steven Spielberg advised Vin Diesel to not give up on the director’s chair

Although getting the role in Saving Private Ryan had to deal with Vin Diesel’s skills as an actor, Steven Spielberg was more impressed by his work as a director. Even though his directed movies didn’t make big numbers, they did manage to impress one of the greatest to stand behind a camera. Reflecting on his experience with the Jaws director, Diesel explained that Spielberg did advise him to keep directing more movies. Diesel recalled,

“Speaking of Steven Spielberg, I saw him recently, and he had said to me, ‘When I wrote the role for you in Saving Private Ryan, I was obviously employing the actor, but I was also secretly championing the director in you, and you have not directed enough. That is a crime of cinema and you must get back in the directing chair,’”

Steven Spielberg

Despite his resume as a director being a little empty after his two projects in the 90s, the Fast X actor did rise to the top after Steven Spielberg gave him the required push in the late 90s.

Saving Private Ryan is available to stream on Apple TV.