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Fast and Furious: Paul Walker's Brothers Want Brian O'Conner Return
It’s been five years since Paul Walker died in an off-set car crash and his brothers Caleb and Cody Walker have revealed that they’re open to helping bring their brother’s character back to the screen in future Fast and Furious films. Walker died in November 2013, a few years before the release of Furious 7 in April 2015. Furious 7 was the last film he starred in.
The Fast and Furious franchise began with the release of The Fast and the Furious in 2001. It starred Vin Diesel as the head of a crew of street racers who moonlighted as thieves and pulled off high speed truck heists. Paul Walker played the cop who was sent undercover to infiltrate their crew and stop them. Though at odds initially, the two characters would go on to forge a bond that continued through the series. Filled with increasingly elaborate car chases and death defying stunts, the Fast and Furious franchise has grown in popularity since its inception.
According to AP News, both Walker brothers may want to return to the series. In Furious 7, Paul Walker’s face was digitally imposed over his brothers'. His brothers then went on to finish scenes Paul hadn’t had a chance to film, including the ending in which Paul’s character Brian O’Conner drives off into the sunset after an emotional goodbye to Diesel’s Dominic Toretto. Caleb Walker hopes they can bring Brian back through the use of CGI again for a small cameo where he saves the day. Cody Walker sees potential in Brian coming back but he wants it to be tasteful, a testament to how great a person his brother was. The brothers are currently promoting promoting I Am Paul Walker, a one-hour documentary about the actor’s career, childhood and family.
The Fast and Furious franchise has continued since Paul Walker’s death. At the end of Furious 7 they established that his character would be taking a step back from the crew to focus on being with his family. That helped explain why he wasn’t in 2017′s The Fate of the Furious though he was mentioned twice in the film. The next addition to the franchise will be Hobbs and Shaw, a spin-off starring Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham and Idris Elba as the villain. The franchise is also branching out into animation with a Netflix series featuring Dominic Toretto's teenage cousin Tony.
In the Fast and Furious franchise, Dominic Toretto is always emphasizing the importance of family. That family has extended off screen to the actors and Paul Walker and Brian O’Conner were crucial parts of that family. Fans of the franchise are passionate and would no doubt love to see the return of Brian in a future film. Technology has grown a lot since Walker was digitally added to Furious 7. Peter Cushing’s Grand Moff Tarkin was digitally recreated for Rogue One and was featured in several scenes as was Carrie Fisher’s Leia for the film’s ending. Both digital characters were amazing recreations of their originals. Walker can be be added to future Fast and Furious films in the same way using his brothers as a base. With his brothers on board with the idea, it’s possible Brian may return even if it’s only for a small role.
