The Walker brothers step forward

Walker’s brothers to fill in for the late actor in order to complete film.

The brothers of actor Paul Walker, who died in November, will fill in for the late action star in order to complete scenes in the upcoming film Fast & Furious 7, according to a statement posted on the film’s Facebook page. Caleb and Cody Walker will help finish action scenes for their brother and “fill in small gaps left in production,” the statement said, reports Reuters.

“We came together and all felt the only choice was to continue,” the statement said. “We believe our fans want that, and we believe Paul would want that too. Paul had already shot his dramatic scenes and most of his action for Fast & Furious 7, and it’s among the strongest work of his career.”

Walker, 40, died on November 30 in a fiery one-car crash in Santa Clarita, California, northwest of Los Angeles. “Having them on set has made us all feel that Paul is with us, too,” the statement said. Walker was on break from filming Fast & Furious 7 at the time of his death, which led to a temporary halt in production.

Walker will not be killed off in this instalment of the franchise. Instead, scenes have been added which will address Walker’s retirement and allow the franchise to continue without him, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The actor had become the face of street racing and car culture through the role of law enforcement officer Brian O’Conner in five of the six Fast & Furious films about illegal street racing, heists and organized crime.

Universal Pictures, which is owned by Comcast, subsequently pushed back the release of the seventh instalment of the highly lucrative franchise by nine months to April 2015.

Walker’s penultimate film role was in Brick Mansions, which will be released in US theatres on April 25. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2014.

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