Paul Walker’s character is still ‘very much alive’ in Fast X, which shared its first trailer last week.
The late actor – who died in a car crash aged 40 in 2013 – starred as Brian O’Conner in six movies in the adrenaline fueled blockbuster franchise with his final appearance coming posthumously in 2013’s Fast And Furious 6.
Brian has since featured in the saga and enjoyed retirement while CGI and his two brothers serving as body doubles mean his presence has still been felt.
Speaking to TotalFilm about his approach in the upcoming sequel, director Louis Leterrier said: ‘Well, Brian is very much alive in the world of Fast and 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.’
Back in the game: Paul Walker’s character is still ‘very much alive’ in Fast X
In 2001: The late actor – who died in a car crash aged 40 in 2013 – starred as Brian O’Conner in six movies in the adrenaline fueled blockbuster franchise with his final appearance coming posthumously in 2013’s Fast And Furious 6
He explained that the decision was made for the character to be seen ‘in the past’, and he noted Walker’s family remains a huge part of the franchise.
He added: ‘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.’
Last year, on November 30 – the anniversary of Walker’s death – his former co-star Vin Diesel shared a poignant tribute to his late friend by sharing a throwback picture of them together on Instagram.
The actor captioned the post: ‘Nine years … love you and miss you.’ Paul was at the height of his fame when he was involved in a fatal car accident in Santa Clarita, California when the Porsche he was riding in along with his pal Roger Rodas collided with a concrete post and burst into flames.
Both men died in the tragic crash.
The past: ‘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,’ said the director
His family said OK: He explained that the decision was made for the character to be seen ‘in the past’, and he noted Walker’s family remains a huge part of the franchise. He added: ‘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’
After Paul’s death, Vin released a statement sharing his grief. It read: ‘Pablo [ Paul ], I wish you could see the world right now … and the profound impact, your full life has had on it, on Us … on me.’
He went on to reference his pal’s Fast and Furious character Brian O’Conner, adding: ‘I will always love you Brian, as the brother you were … on and off screen.’
Last week the trailer for Fast X came out.
Franchise regulars such as Vin Diesel, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Michelle Rodriguez and Jason Statham appeared in the nearly four-minute-long clip alongside some new additions to the series.
Noticeably absent from the film was Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson who played a character in several movies but has a long standing feud with Diesel.
Fast X’s trailer begins with Diesel’s Dominic Toretto surrounded by his surrogate family of fighters and racers.
His grandmother, Abuela Toretto (Rita Moreno) rises from the table and congratulates her grandson on building the family in spite of so many obstacles.
New trailer: The trailer for Fast X, the penultimate chapter in the Fast & Furious film series, came out last week
Full of stars: Franchise regulars such as Vin Diesel, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Michelle Rodriguez and Jason Statham appeared in the nearly four-minute-long clip alongside some new additions to the series
Toretto’s wife Letty (Rodriguez) asks Dominic what he’s thinking, and he explains he’s worried about losing someone he loves, especially his son Brian (Leo Abelo Perry).
The film then cuts to a message for Toretto from Dante (Momoa), the son of one of Toretto’s former adversaries.
‘You’re about to learn all about fear,’ he says before blowing up a Humvee on a cobblestone street.
The trailer then takes the viewer back to the events of Fast Five when Dante’s father was killed by Dominic and Brian O’Conner (the late-Paul Walker).
As he tells Dominic he stole his family and future from him, he also threatens him by saying he’s going to ‘break’ Toretto’s.
Dante then blows up a huge portion of a populated city, raising his arms in a triumphant gesture.
The trailer introduces Brie Larson’s character, Tess, a secret government agent who wars Toretto about the dangers he faces.
Dom’s brother Jakob (John Cena) asks Dom for a plan, but he admits he isn’t sure what to do.
Congrats: His grandmother, Abuela Toretto (Rita Moreno) rises from the table and congratulates her grandson on building the family in spite of so many obstacles
Afraid of losing his son: Toretto’s wife Letty (Rodriguez) asks Dominic what he’s thinking, and he explains he’s worried about losing someone he loves, especially his son Brian (Leo Abelo Perry)
Threats: The film then cuts to a message for Toretto from Dante (Momoa), the son of one of Toretto’s former adversaries
‘Fear’: ‘You’re about to learn all about fear,’ he says before blowing up a Humvee on a cobblestone street
Plan? Dom’s brother Jakob (John Cena) asks Dom for a plan, but he admits he isn’t sure what to do
It seems that Dom may try to turn himself over at one point because he goes to visit Dante, who replies, ‘Never accept death when suffering is owed.’
Sung Kang makes an appearance as Han Lue before Helen Mirren’s Magdalene ‘Queenie’ Ellmanson-Shaw places a comforting hand on his shoulder.
Dom ruminates on racing saying that they used to ‘race for respect’ in the early days.
‘Today, I race to stop a blood bath,’ he admits before challenging Dante to a race.
‘That’s the problem with having such a big family,’ the villain responds. ‘How do you choose the ones you save.’
The race then leads into a long montage which shows the different members of Toretto’s crew taking down armored trucks and even helicopters while in their muscle cars.
Coming for his family: ‘That’s the problem with having such a big family,’ the villain responds. ‘How do you choose the ones you save
Deckard Shaw (Statham) shows off some powerful martial arts moves as he fights several men coming out with him machine guns before asking Lue if he can still drive.
‘What do you think?’ he responds confidently while a shot of him drifting around a corner plays.
Dante kidnaps Brian, and Dominic chases him down, telling him via radio, ‘You will never be able to break my family.’
The trailer ends with Letty waking up next to Cipher (Charlize Theron), a hacker from the previous two installments in the series.
The pair fight with Letty leveling what appears to be a knockout blow at the end.
Fast X is set for release on May 19, 2023.
Not coming back: Since it’s one of the last entries in the series, Fast X boasts an incredible ensemble cast. However, Johnson, who played Agent Luke Hobbs in earlier films, refused to come back for the movie (pictured 2011)