One Race Films
One Race Films is an American film and television production company founded by actor, writer, director, and producer Vin Diesel in 1995, specializing in action-oriented projects with a focus on high-grossing franchises.[1] Based in Los Angeles, California, the company—also known as One Race Productions—has been instrumental in producing several blockbuster films starring Diesel, including many of the highest-grossing entries in the Fast & Furious franchise such as Furious 7 (2015), The Fate of the Furious (2017), Fast & Furious 6 (2013), F9 (2021), and Fast X (2023).[2] It has also produced sequels in Diesel's Riddick franchise, including The Chronicles of Riddick (2004) and Riddick (2013), as well as xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017) and The Last Witch Hunter (2015). In addition to feature films, One Race Films expanded into television through a multi-year first-look deal with Universal Television in 2015, leading to developments like the Riddick companion series and procedural dramas such as First Responders for NBC.[3][4] The company's output emphasizes Diesel's vision of inclusive storytelling, reflected in its name symbolizing the unity of humanity as "one race," and it continues to support multimedia projects including video games via its affiliate Tigon Studios and music through Racetrack Records.[5]History
Founding
One Race Films was established in 1995 in Los Angeles, California, by Vin Diesel, an actor, writer, director, and producer seeking to create opportunities in the entertainment industry.[6][7] The company emerged from Diesel's early struggles in Hollywood, where his ambiguous ethnic background often complicated casting decisions, as he navigated roles across various racial lines without fitting neatly into traditional categories.[8] The name "One Race" embodies Diesel's philosophical view of humanity as a unified race, transcending ethnic divisions—a perspective shaped by his biracial Italian and African-American heritage and the personal challenges of racial ambiguity in an industry prone to typecasting.[9] This credo reflects a commitment to colorblind storytelling, allowing Diesel to portray diverse characters without being confined to one racial identity.[8] From its inception, the company aimed to foster diverse voices through multimedia content, emphasizing inclusive narratives over rigid ethnic portrayals.[6] Initially, One Race Films concentrated on producing independent short films and features starring Diesel, with its debut project being the semi-autobiographical short Multi-Facial (1995), which Diesel wrote, directed, produced, and starred in.[10][11] The film explores the professional hurdles faced by a multiracial actor auditioning for roles that demand specific ethnic traits, mirroring Diesel's own experiences and setting the tone for the company's focus on authentic, boundary-pushing stories.[12]Growth and milestones
Following its founding in 1995, One Race Films transitioned in the early 2000s to co-productions with major studios, beginning with The Chronicles of Riddick (2004), which allowed for larger budgets and wider distribution in the action genre. This shift expanded the company's scope beyond independent projects, enabling high-profile franchises such as The Fast and the Furious series, also distributed by Universal starting in 2001. Later partnerships included Lionsgate for The Last Witch Hunter (2015), further diversifying its studio collaborations.[13] By 2023, One Race Films had co-produced at least 9 feature films, all starring founder Vin Diesel, solidifying its position as a prominent producer in action cinema with global box office earnings exceeding $6 billion across its output.[14] These milestones reflected steady growth, with the company's films consistently achieving commercial success through franchise expansions and genre innovation. To accommodate its expanding operations, One Race Films established its base in Universal City, California, facilitating closer integration with Hollywood's production infrastructure during the 2010s.[6] In tandem with its business growth, the company launched the One Race Global Film Foundation in 2013 as a non-profit arm dedicated to supporting diverse filmmakers through training programs and international initiatives, particularly in underrepresented regions like the Dominican Republic.[15][16] In 2025, One Race Films announced development of a sequel to The Last Witch Hunter in partnership with Lionsgate, with Diesel reprising his lead role alongside Michael Caine, underscoring the company's ongoing relevance in the action-fantasy space.[17]Filmography
Released films
One Race Films has produced 18 films through 2023, all starring Vin Diesel in lead roles and with the company acting as primary or co-producer on each.[18] These works emphasize action, sci-fi, and thriller genres, frequently incorporating high-budget action sequences and franchise continuations.[4] The company's released films, listed chronologically, are as follows:- Multi-Facial (1995): Diesel's directorial debut short film, which he also wrote, produced, and starred in as an actor navigating ethnic identity challenges during auditions.
- Strays (1997): An early drama feature that Diesel wrote, directed, produced, and starred in, following a drug dealer seeking meaningful relationships amid urban hustling.
- xXx (2002): An action spy thriller in which Diesel starred as the extreme athlete-turned-agent Xander Cage; One Race served as co-producer.
- A Man Apart (2003): A crime action film starring Diesel as a DEA agent pursuing a drug cartel leader; One Race co-produced alongside New Line Cinema.
- The Chronicles of Riddick (2004): A sci-fi sequel to Pitch Black, with Diesel reprising his role as the anti-hero Riddick in a universe-threatening conflict; One Race was a key production entity.[19]
- Find Me Guilty (2006): A courtroom drama starring Diesel as a mobster defending himself in a major trial; One Race co-produced with Jersey Films.
- Babylon A.D. (2008): A sci-fi action film featuring Diesel as a mercenary escorting a mysterious woman across a dystopian world; One Race co-produced with StudioCanal.
- Fast & Furious (2009): A revival entry in the Fast & Furious franchise, starring Diesel as Dominic Toretto in a revenge-driven street racing plot; One Race co-produced with Universal Pictures.
- Fast Five (2011): A heist-oriented spin in the Fast & Furious series, with Diesel leading a crew robbing a corrupt businessman in Brazil; One Race was co-producer.
- Fast & Furious 6 (2013): The sixth installment in the Fast & Furious franchise, starring Diesel as Toretto in a high-stakes global pursuit; One Race co-produced with Relativity Media.[20]
- Riddick (2013): A return to the Pitch Black universe, starring Diesel as Riddick surviving on a hostile planet; One Race produced in collaboration with Radar Pictures.
- Furious 7 (2015): A sequel in the Fast & Furious franchise featuring Diesel's Toretto crew against an international assassin; One Race co-produced with MRC.[21]
- The Last Witch Hunter (2015): A fantasy action film with Diesel as an immortal warrior battling sorcery; One Race co-produced with Lionsgate.
- xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017): A sequel to the 2002 xXx, reuniting Diesel as Xander Cage against a global threat; One Race co-produced with Revolution Studios.
- The Fate of the Furious (2017): An installment in the Fast & Furious franchise, starring Diesel as Toretto facing betrayal and cyber-terrorism; One Race co-produced with Original Film.
- Bloodshot (2020): A sci-fi action film with Diesel as a resurrected super-soldier seeking revenge; One Race co-produced with Columbia Pictures.[22]
- F9 (2021): The ninth Fast & Furious film, featuring Diesel's Toretto confronting his past and family adversaries; One Race served as co-producer.
- Fast X (2023): The tenth Fast & Furious entry, with Diesel leading against new antagonists seeking revenge; One Race co-produced alongside Original Film and Perfect Storm Entertainment.