The deceased actor Paul Walker's younger, lookalike brother Cody has been asked to step in for him to film the final scenes for Fast & The Furious 7, it emerged yesterday.
The 40-year-old star, who had reprised his role as Brian O'Connor, was on a break from filming at the time of his death in a shocking car crash in Los Angeles on November 30.
His younger brother Cody Walker, 25, who has worked as a movie stuntman, is set to take his place in the latest installment of the hit franchise.
Beaming, the Walker brothers, from left, Cody, Caleb and Paul, pose in the fall sunshine at Caleb's October wedding
Paul's body was transferred from the mortuary at Los Angeles cemetery Forest Lawn Memorial Park to a crematory in Glendale, California. The funeral will be held on the weekend and will be a family affair, and it has been reported some of Paul's Fast & Furious co-stars such as Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez and Tyrese Gibson will attend the small event.
Earlier this week, the family claimed plastic road markers may have been responsible for the crash that killed the star after stunt experts claimed the 2005 Porsche Carrera GT driven by Paul's friend hit the markers, called Bott's Dots, and careered out of control.
It has since emerged that car experts have long expressed concern about the souped-up model's suitability for the road, due to its ultra light carbon-fiber frame and 5.7 liter race-derived V10 engine. It has a flat out speed of 205 miles per hour and its design is derived from earlier Porsche Le Mans models. Porsche knew of the car's sensitivity when they launched the model in 2004.
The investigation into the crash is still ongoing.
The scene of the crash
Following Paul's death, Universal Pictures announced it was their "duty" to shut down production - adding they were "dedicated to providing support to Paul's immediate family and our extended Fast & Furious family of cast, crew, and filmmakers."
A source close to production said: "Producers had a string of meetings right after Paul's death. They soon realized they needed someone who looked like Paul to finish the movie and that's when they approached his nearly identical brother, Cody.
"They can shoot Cody from behind and at distance and if it's a shot they need Paul's face in close up they can CGI it later on.
"If Cody agrees it's because he wants to honor his brother's memory. There are many details that still need to be worked out, but right now the family and cast and crew are all still grieving."
In addition to this, Universal have also made it clear they will work with the Walker family and take their guidance on a fitting exit for Paul's Fast & Furious character, Brian O'Connor, according to the source.
Screenwriter Chris Morgan is reportedly working on script revisions to Fast & The Furious 7 with hopes of "retiring" the character using footage that was shot before.
Sources say Universal has "already has poured about $150 million into the film, a bill that its insurance firm, Fireman's Fund, might have to pay in full if Universal concludes the picture must be started anew."
Paul Walker Sr., right, and Cody Walker, center, were at Forest Lawn Cemetery on Wednesday arranging last details for Paul Walker's Funeral
No comments:
Post a Comment