14 DAY TRIAL // Actor Paul Walker, famous for his role in the “Fast and Furious” film franchise, died over the weekend in an explosion that consumed the car he and a friend were in, after a one-vehicle crash. Universal has already decided that the 7th installment in the franchise will still be made and released.
However, official confirmation of it is still pending.
Walker was shooting scenes for the movie in Atlanta days before the accident, with the entire crew taking a little break to spend Thanksgiving with their families. The actor took the time to attend a charity event with friends as well, and was on his way home from that event when the accident occurred.
Everyone was supposed to go back on set on Sunday, to start working on the film. Now, The Hollywood Reporter notes, production will remain on hiatus until Monday or Tuesday at the earliest, to allow everyone time to mourn Walker’s death.
Amid speculation that the seventh installment might never see the light of day because, after all, Walker’s character was crucial, insiders confirm for THR that “the movie will not be abandoned entirely,” just delayed.
“Director James Wan and Universal executives held a conference call Sunday morning to discuss the state of the film, whether rewrites would be necessary and how to proceed in a manner that would be respectful to Walker's death. Walker, 40, was a favorite on the set of the Fast movies, and his death has left his fellow stars, including Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson, and the crew devastated,” the publication writes.
“Insiders say a large part of the film had been shot, although in January, Walker and the rest of the Fast 7 team were scheduled to travel to Abu Dhabi to film additional scenes,” adds the report.
Then again, this wouldn’t be the first time that a big-budget movie goes ahead with the production and the release after a member of the main cast dies, with the most notable being that of “The Dark Knight,” which was still released after Health Legder’s sudden demise.