‘Somehow’ Paul Walker will return in Fast X, Explained by Director. The latest trailer for Fast X reveals that the film will revisit the events of Fast Five from 2011, featuring previous footage of the late Paul Walker.
Given that the franchise will conclude after the tenth and eleventh films, there is speculation about whether Walker’s character, Brian O’Conner, will be digitally resurrected, similar to his emotional farewell in Furious 7.
Director Louis Leterrier explained that Paul Walker’s return would only be considered if it could be executed flawlessly. This has left many fans pondering the fate of the beloved character.
“Well, Brian is very much alive in the world of Fast & Furious, and they’ve teased him a lot in the previous movies. In 9, we see the car coming. It’s something that is planned. This movie jumps back and forth between the past and the present.
You will see Brian in the past, you won’t see Brian in the present. It’s something that everybody has to be on board with. The Walker family is still very much a part of this franchise, you’ll see how in this movie. It just has to be the right moment, the right tone. I think what James Wan did at the end of 7 was perfect. The tone was perfect. Brian has to re-enter the franchise as perfectly as he left it.”
About Paul Walker
In 2013, Paul Walker tragically passed away in a car accident, with his final performance featuring in Fast and Furious 6, released that same year. Despite his untimely death, his character remained a part of the franchise, with his retirement incorporated into the storyline. Walker’s brothers also served as body doubles, allowing his character to appear on screen, along with the use of CGI.
For director Louis Leterrier and many others, the emotional farewell to Walker’s character in Furious 7 was the perfect way to bid farewell to Brian O’Connor. As the Fast and Furious franchise draws to a close with its tenth and eleventh installments, there are concerns that this farewell could be compromised. However, Leterrier has reassured fans that any decisions regarding the potential return of Walker’s character will not be taken lightly, suggesting that the perfect send-off will not be undone lightly.