Since the passing of “Fast & Furious” actor Paul Walker, makers of the seventh installment of the franchise had been contemplating the fate of the actor’s character Brian O’Connor, until now.
Studio officials have decided to retire Walker’s character, FBI agent Brian O’Connor, as opposed to killing the character off.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, director James Wan, writer Chris Morgan and Universal’s Jeffery Kirschenbaum have been deliberating for weeks on how to utilize the existing footage of Walker after he passed away halfway through filming.
“The trio then devised a plan to tweak the existing script so that Walker would remain a part of the story but could be written out, allowing the franchise to continue without him,” states The Hollywood Reporter. “The changes will require some additional scenes to be written and shot, but the eight-month delay of release provides plenty of time.”
Yahoo! Movies opposes the new script, feeling that, “While it would have been wildly inappropriate to have Walker’s character dying in a flaming car wreck, killing off Brian would still pack a far bigger punch for fans than retiring the character. Though Brian is settled down with Mia and a child in the sixth film, he was still an integral part of the action and retirement in “Fast and Furious 7” may not satisfy all the fans of the franchise.”
What are your thoughts on the studio’s decision to retire Walker’s character?
“Fast & Furious 7” will open in theaters on April 10, 2015.
