Latest news with #BrianOConner
Top Gear
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Top Gear
Fast X: Part 2 will apparently reunite Dominic Toretto and... Brian O'Conner. Wait, what?
Fast X: Part 2 will apparently reunite Dominic Toretto and... Brian O'Conner. Wait, what? It will also see the series return to Los Angeles and its street racing roots Skip 6 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 6 Vin Diesel has confirmed a few key details for what we can expect in Fast X: Part 2, the final chapter in the long-running and sometimes incomphrensible Fast and Furious saga, with the most crucial being an on-screen return for Brian O'Conner (played by the late Paul Walker). The beloved cop-turned-racer had a starring role in five of the first six instalments, before his passing during the production of the seventh. Walker is believed to have completed 85 per cent of his scenes in that movie, with his brothers, Caleb and Cody, stepping in for the remainder as CGI stand-ins. Advertisement - Page continues below Walker was given a heartfelt tribute at the end of Furious 7, and though his character has been referenced on multiple occasions in the three movies since, the decision to bring him back to the fold could prove to be a divisive one. Also... how, exactly? Diesel confirmed the franchise was also heading back to its spiritual home of Los Angeles, where the very first movie was set, while promising a return to the street racing theme that made the series such a hit. Whether the production team decides to go full '90s, with deep house music and time-warping nitrous oxide scenes, is yet to be seen. A return to LA makes the previous movie's cliffhanger ending somewhat tricky: Toretto staring at a soon-to-collapse dam, his team's plane being taken down and the post-credit return of Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson). So, once more... how, exactly? Fast X: Part 2 was originally set for release in early 2026, but production delays have now pushed the launch date back to April 2027. Reckon Diesel's revelations are going to make it worth the wait? Advertisement - Page continues below Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
ArabGT
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- ArabGT
Fast & Furious Bids Farewell with the Return of Paul Walker
More than a decade after the tragic loss of Paul Walker in 2013, the beloved actor will once again grace the screen in the final chapter of the Fast & Furious saga. Fans of the franchise are about to witness a historic moment, as Universal prepares to bring closure to one of cinema's most enduring action legacies. According to star Vin Diesel, the eleventh installment won't just wrap up the story of Dominic Toretto and his crew—it will serve as a reunion for the entire Fast family, including Brian O'Conner, the character made iconic by Walker. Through a heartfelt and carefully crafted approach, Brian's return will mark a poignant turning point in the franchise's long history. To achieve this, the filmmakers have chosen a sophisticated method that steers clear of digital recreations or virtual simulations. Instead, the return of Brian will be made possible by integrating unseen archival footage into newly filmed scenes, edited in a way that allows for seamless interaction with the ongoing storyline. This respectful technique ensures that Walker's presence is honored authentically, while preserving the emotional weight his character carries. It also restores the sense of grounded storytelling and emotional depth that many fans felt had been diluted in recent films. Vin Diesel has emphasized that this final chapter is meant to reunite the core characters who shaped the heart of the franchise. Dom and Letty, Roman and Tej, Mia and her children—all will be brought together on screen, alongside Brian, for a farewell that feels both nostalgic and genuine. This return to form re-centers the narrative on the values that made the series resonate from the beginning: loyalty, family, and connection. In another nod to its roots, Fast & Furious 11 will revive the gritty street racing culture that defined its earliest entries. The film is set to feature authentic racing sequences shot on the streets of Los Angeles using legendary vehicles such as the Dodge Charger and Toyota Supra. The production aims to limit the use of CGI, focusing instead on realism and physical action that reflect the franchise's original tone. This shift is designed to recapture the raw energy that captivated fans in the early 2000s and distinguish the final film as a return to authenticity. The release of the eleventh film is currently scheduled for April 2027, with an official teaser expected to drop soon on YouTube. Production is projected to take between eighteen months and two years, reflecting the ambition and care behind this grand finale. It's clear that the team behind Fast & Furious wants to ensure that the story concludes with both spectacle and soul. This final installment represents more than just the end of an era—it's a carefully orchestrated tribute to the series' history, its characters, and most importantly, its fans. The return of Brian O'Conner after a decade, the full cast reunion, the revival of street racing culture, and the respectful approach to Paul Walker's legacy all combine to create a cinematic moment that is both powerful and emotionally resonant. It's not just a farewell; it's a celebration of everything the franchise has meant to millions around the world. For those who have been along for the ride since the beginning, Fast & Furious 11 promises to be the defining moment they've waited for since 2001—a final ride that brings the family full circle.
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Vin Diesel SLAMMED as he teases late Paul Walker 'returning' to Fast and Furious 11
Vin Diesel sparked outrage online after teasing that his Fast & Furious character Dom Toretto will 'reunite' with Brian O'Conner (played by the late Paul Walker) for the 11th and final film of the $7.4B-grossing franchise already scheduled to hit theaters in April 2027. The 57-year-old SAG Award nominee sported a tank top emblazoned with 'Fast X Part 2 Los Angeles Production 2025' while making the controversial announcement listing his three 'conditions' for Universal Pictures as he hit the stage at FuelFest in Pomona, CA last Saturday. 'First, is to bring the franchise back to LA!' Vin (born Mark Sinclair) said in fan footage of the event. 'The second thing was to return to the car culture, to the street racing! The third thing was reuniting Dom and Brian O'Conner.' It's worth noting that Diesel and his Fast & Furious co-star Tyrese Gibson were joined at FuelFest by Paul's mother Cheryl Walker and younger brother Cody Walker. Fans will recall how Furious 7 director James Wan hired Weta Digital to recreate Walker's face with CGI, which was superimposed over the bodies of three stand-ins - 37-year-old Cody, his 47-year-old brother Caleb, and lookalike John Brotherton. The 57-year-old SAG Award nominee sported a tank top emblazoned with 'Fast X Part 2 Los Angeles Production 2025' while making the controversial announcement listing his three 'conditions' for Universal Pictures as he hit the stage at FuelFest in Pomona, CA last Saturday The undercover LAPD detective-turned-street racer officially 'retired' at the closing of the 2015 seventh installment to have a quiet life with Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster) and their son Jack (Kimsey twins). On the social media platform X, the reaction to the news troubled many fans including user @khaliltooshort who tweeted: 'Bringing back Paul Walker as a CGI character is as disgusting as bringing back Chadwick [Boseman] as Black Panther.' 'I watched them turn grief into a cash grab,' X user @sharon_riley35 blasted. 'And now they're dragging Paul Walker's legacy back like it's a prop.' X user @JasonDelgado78 tweeted: 'Let Paul Walker rest in peace instead of CGI-ing him into a crappy movie.' 'Let Paul Walker's character in the Fast series stay retired. He got a good send off, don't bring him back,' X user @HdRozay chimed in. 'Can't we just let this franchise go? It's way past its prime and it's only disrespectful to Paul Walker to continue to have Brian there,' X user @rainbow_astoria tweeted. '[I don't care] if it's Paul's brother playing him, it's still disrespectful and stretching out a franchise that should've ended like 10 years ago.' X user @She_DreadzMe wrote that if Paul Walker's family is 'cool with them resurrecting him via CGI' then: 'I can't be mad. I will never understand people being mad at creative choices that directors/writers make if the family's cool with it. Conversation should be over.' 'Looks like Paul Walker's brother will get another ride,' X user @adamzaynAZ predicted. Vin might be able to incorporate the same AI algorithm technology that directing duo Leo Scott and Ting Poo used to recreate the late Val Kilmer's voice from hours of archival footage for their 2021 Amazon documentary Val following his bout with throat cancer. 'I watched them turn grief into a cash grab,' X user @sharon_riley35 blasted. 'And now they're dragging Paul Walker's legacy back like it's a prop' 'Let Paul Walker's character in the Fast series stay retired. He got a good send off, don't bring him back,' X user @HdRozay chimed in X user @rainbow_astoria tweeted: '[I don't care] if it's Paul's brother playing him, it's still disrespectful and stretching out a franchise that should've ended like 10 years ago' The 26-year-old CAA Fashion Model wrote on June 15: 'Happy Father's Day to my guardian angel. Thank you for your love, guidance, and for truly being the most incredible dad and my best friend. I miss you every day, my sunshine. I love you' Aside from the 10 previous Fast & Furious films spanning 2001-2023, the blockbuster franchise also spawned spin-offs Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) as well as Netflix series Fast & Furious Spy Racers (2019-21). Two weeks ago, Paul's only child with babymama Rebecca Soteros - Meadow Walker - paid tribute to his memory on Father's Day. 'Happy Father's Day to my guardian angel,' the 26-year-old CAA Fashion Model - who's president of the Paul Walker Foundation - wrote on June 15. 'Thank you for your love, guidance, and for truly being the most incredible dad and my best friend. I miss you every day, my sunshine. I love you.' Meadow was only 15 when her famous father tragically died, age 40, in 2013 shortly after hopping into a Porsche Carrera GT with his pal Roger Rodas, who crashed into a concrete lamp and two trees in Valencia, CA. The Cali-born, Hawaiian-raised nepo-baby received $7.2M in her 2014 settlement from the Rodas estate, according to TMZ. And by 2017, Meadow and her grandfather Paul Walker Sr. settled a separate lawsuit against Porsche 'to the satisfaction of all involved' - according to the Los Angeles Times. Walker's cremated remains were buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills in a non-denominational ceremony.
Geek Culture
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
Vin Diesel To Reunite Dom & Late Paul Walker's Brian In 'Fast & Furious' Finale Film
Vin Diesel has stunned audiences with the announcement that Brian O'Conner, the character played by the late Paul Walker, will return to the Fast & Furious franchise for its upcoming finale, Fast X: Part 2 . Fast Five (2011) Announced at FuelFest 2025 in Los Angeles, the action movie star made a surprise appearance to inform fans that he was bringing the franchise back to LA, with the movie now returning to the series' street racing roots. These were just two of the three non-negotiables Diesel raised in discussions with Universal Pictures executives for the final instalment's tentative release window in April 2027. Diesel then cryptically remarked that the final condition was the reunion between Brian O'Conner and his character, Dominic Toretto, drawing raucous cheers from the audience. Despite this, the announcement was met with mixed reactions from fans, with some excited for the return of the fan-favourite character, while others denounced the return of O'Conner given Walker's poignant send-off back in 2015's Furious 7 due to the actor's untimely demise in 2013. Furious 7 (2015) With no further news on how O'Conner could be returning to the silver screen, the feasibility of his resurrection remains to be seen. Furious 7 utilised CGI and Walker's brothers, Caleb and Cody, as physical stand-ins, while 2023's Fast X used actual footage of Walker as O'Conner during a flashback. Meanwhile, with mentions of O'Conner living out his family life in the Fast & Furious universe, even being seen pulling into the Toretto's driveway in his signature 1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R in 2021's F9 , the production team has clearly demonstrated the willingness to leave the door ajar for the character's inclusion. Furthermore, film director Louis Leterrier also stated during an interview with TotalFilm that 'the Walker family is still very much a part of this franchise… It just has to be the right moment, the right tone.' With much uncertainty on how they will bring back O'Conner, and in what capacity, fans can only wait and see how things will rev up when Fast X: Part 2 hits the road in April 2027. Conversation with Ting Wei is like chatting with a weird AI bot programmed only with One Piece lore and theories, sitcom quotes and other miscellaneous pop culture references. When he's not sleeping, he's most likely reading manga. In fact, the only thing he reads more than manga is probably the Bible, and it's honestly pretty close. Brian O'Conner Fast & Furious Fast X Part 2 paul walker Vin Diesel
The Independent
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Fast and Furious icon Paul Walker could return in new film
Vin Diesel hinted at the potential return of Paul Walker 's character, Brian O'Conner, to the Fast and Furious franchise, 12 years after the actor's death. At Fuel Fest, Diesel stated one of his three conditions for the final Fast and Furious film, set for April 2027, was to reunite Dom and Brian O'Conner. Paul Walker, who died in 2013, last appeared in 2015's Furious 7, with his younger brothers completing his unfinished scenes as body doubles. It remains unclear how Walker's character would return, with digital insertion of his likeness being a likely method. The article also noted Meadow Walker's cameo in 2023's Fast X and Dwayne Johnson 's surprise return in a mid-credits scene.
