A few days after filming wrapped on Universal’s Fast and Furious 9, a new rumour claims the studio is bringing back the late Paul Walker for the sequel.
While still unconfirmed by Universal, entertainment reporter Daniel Richman tweeted earlier this month that he had just found a casting grid with some ‘big news’ that he’s not sure how he feels. Then last week, he tweeted, ‘It’s been a long time. They are bringing back Paul Walker’s character, Brian, in FF9. ‘
Walker was part of the Fast and Furious franchise from the beginning, starring alongside Undercover-Cop Brian O’Connor in 2001’s The Fast and the Furious, alongside Vin Diesel. While the original stars parted ways on the next few films, they reunited in 2009’s Fast and Furious, and then in 2011’s Fast Five, 2013’s Fast and Furious 6, and 2015’s Furious 7.
The sad part is that during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in 2013, while on break from Furious 7, Walker died at the age of 40 after a horrific car accident. After extensive rewrite and rehab, Furious 7 had already shot footage of Walker, CGI technology and his brothers Cody and Caleb, giving Walker’s character Brian O’Connor a proper send-off for ‘retirement’.
While O’Connor was briefly mentioned in 2017’s The Fate of the Furious, he was not seen or heard of, although this may change as the rumour spreads.
Although no information was revealed about Walker’s possible return, another rumour surfaced just before production that Fast and Furious 9 features flashbacks to Dominic Toretto’s (Vin Diesel) past.
Just before the wrapped filming, Diesel shared a video with Michelle Rodríguez from a race track, hinting that tough fans would know where they are.
Some fans have speculated that they were at Irwindale Speedway, while LADBible signs Fast and Furious 9 may see the first film again.
In the first film, Toretto tells O’Connor about a memory of his past, where he saw his father die during a stock car race, so it’s possible that the tragic event Fast and Furious 9 from Dom’s past Can be seen in
Director Justin Lynn announced last week that filming wrapped up on Fast and Furious 9, scheduled for release on May 22, 2020.
‘This is an official # F9 wrap! It is the most ambitious film of the series so far and I am forever grateful to our amazing crew from London, Edinburgh, Tbilisi (Georgia), Phuket and Krabi (Thailand) and Los Angeles, ‘Lynn said.
The flagship franchise 2 will come with a slated Fast and Furious 10 for release on 2021.