Latest news with #PaulWalker
The South African
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The South African
Vin Diesel sparks online debate by teasing Paul Walker's return
Vin Diesel has sparked a fierce debate after hinting that Paul Walker's iconic character, Brian O'Conner, could return in the final chapter of the Fast & Furious franchise. The film is set for release in April 2027. The announcement came during Diesel's appearance at FuelFest in Pomona, California. During his appearance he outlined three key conditions for the upcoming film. Bringing the franchise back to Los Angeles, returning to its street racing roots, and reuniting Dom Toretto with Brian O'Conner, according to Daily Mail. Diesel, 57, wore a tank top emblazoned with 'Fast X Part 2 Los Angeles Production 2025'. He excitedly shared the news with fans. He emphasised the importance of these conditions to Universal Pictures. 'That is what you're going to get in the finale.' Fans met his remarks with mixed reactions, especially since Paul Walker tragically died in a car accident in 2013 at the age of 40. Walker's character was given a heartfelt send-off in Furious 7 (2015). Filmmakers used advanced CGI technology to recreate his face over stand-ins. These stand ins included his brothers Cody and Caleb Walker, and actor John Brotherton. This approach was initially praised for its respectful tribute. However it has now become a point of contention as fans express discomfort with the idea of resurrecting Brian O'Conner for the new film. On social media, many fans voiced their disapproval. One user tweeted, 'Bringing back Paul Walker as a CGI character is as disgusting as bringing back Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther.' Another wrote, 'Let Paul Walker rest in peace instead of CGI-ing him into a crappy movie.' Others felt the franchise should end respectfully, with one stating, 'It's disrespectful and stretching out a franchise that should've ended like 10 years ago.' However, some defended the move. Walker's family, including his mother Cheryl Walker and brother Cody Walker—who were present at FuelFest—appear supportive of the decision. Vin Diesel's announcement also reflects a broader trend in Hollywood of using CGI and AI technology to revive beloved actors. Filmmakers recreated Val Kilmer's voice in the 2021 documentary Val. This raises complex questions about legacy, respect, and artistic integrity in the digital age. Vin Diesel's tease about Brian O'Conner's return has ignited passionate debate. While some fans eagerly anticipate the reunion of Dom and Brian, others urge respect for Paul Walker's memory and caution against overextending the franchise. As the final Fast & Furious film races towards its 2027 release, the world watches closely to see how this beloved story will conclude. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Diogo Jota dies in car crash hauntingly similar to Paul Walker's
Jul 03, 2025 02:53 PM IST Liverpool FC star Diogo Jota, who has died in a car accident in Spain, alongside his younger brother, according to Spanish outlet Marca. Local fire officials in Zamora confirmed that two men, aged 28 and 26, lost their lives when their car caught fire following a crash. Liverpool FC's Diogo Jota and his brother tragically died in a car crash in Spain, poking the pain of Paul Walker tragedy.(Reuters) As the football world mourns the forward's death, the ghastly accident has drawn a similarity to the 2013 death of Fast & Furious actor Paul Walker. Walker was riding as a passenger in a Porsche Carrera GT when it crashed into a pole and a tree before bursting into flames. His friend Roger Rodas was behind the wheel. Both men died at the scene.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
FranklinCovey Appoints Dariusz Paczuski as Chief Marketing Officer
Global Marketing Executive Brings 25+ Years of Experience Driving Customer-Led Growth, Building Iconic Brands, and Leading Digital Transformation SALT LAKE CITY, June 10, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FranklinCovey (NYSE: FC), one of the largest and most trusted leadership companies in the world, today announced it has appointed Dariusz Paczuski as its Chief Marketing Officer. "We're thrilled to have Dariusz join us," said Paul Walker, FranklinCovey CEO. "He has an impressive track record of building iconic brands in highly competitive sectors in media, services, and tech. His passion for our mission, customer-centric focus, and expertise in AI and brand amplification will further strengthen our market position, accelerate our business growth, and enable greatness in even more people and more organizations everywhere." "It's inspiring to join such a passionate and purposeful team," said Paczuski. "FranklinCovey is the world leader in transforming organizations by building exceptional leaders, teams, and cultures that get results. I was introduced to the 7 Habits early in my life and having built a decades-long career in B2B and B2C media and tech, what stands out to me as a business leader and attracts me to this opportunity is the proven durability and impact of these core principles. It's exciting to think about how we will position, package, and deliver powerful solutions to help leaders improve people and organizational performance at scale and in the digital age." Paczuski is a global marketing executive with 25+ years of experience driving customer-led growth, repositioning brands, and leading digital transformation across media and technology companies. He has held marketing leadership roles at media companies and tech pioneers including Verizon, Yahoo, Microsoft, Tellme, AOL, Netscape, and NBC. His expertise spans public and private enterprises, VC and PE-backed firms, and subscription and advertising-based companies with revenues of up to $7.5 billion. He was most recently the Global CMO at Globalization Partners, the leading global employment platform, where he helped launch Gia, a global HR agent powered by AI. Previously, at Verizon, he launched the Verizon Media brand, rebranded Yahoo, and helped execute a strategic turnaround that reignited user and revenue growth. Paczuski added, "I'm honored to steward and shape the future of such an esteemed brand. I look forward to maximizing our impact on a global scale and advancing our mission to enable greatness in people and organizations everywhere." He holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and an International Business Certificate from California State University Long Beach. He is a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program, Microsoft Member Bench, and GE Financial Management Program. Paczuski was born in Poland and has lived in the UK, Norway, and now resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. About FranklinCovey FranklinCovey (NYSE: FC) is one of the largest and most trusted leadership companies in the world, with directly owned and licensee partner offices providing professional services in over 160 countries and territories. The Company transforms organizations by partnering with clients to build leaders, teams, and cultures that get breakthrough results through collective action, which leads to a more engaging work experience for their people. Available through the FranklinCovey All Access Pass, FranklinCovey's best-in-class content, solutions, experts, technology, and metrics seamlessly integrate to ensure lasting behavior change at scale. Solutions are available in multiple delivery modalities in more than 20 languages. This approach to leadership and organizational change has been tested and refined by working with tens of thousands of teams and organizations over the past 30 years. Clients have included organizations in the Fortune 100, Fortune 500 and thousands of small and mid-sized businesses, numerous government entities, and educational institutions. To learn more, visit and enjoy exclusive content across FranklinCovey's social media channels at: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. View source version on Contacts PRESS CONTACT: FranklinCovey Co., Debra Lund, 801-244-4474
Top Gear
2 days ago
- 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*
Gizmodo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘Fast & Furious' Couldn't Keep Driving Like This
Every franchise, if allowed to go on long enough, hits a wall sooner or later. Nothing lasts forever, as they say, and we've seen this eventuality come sooner or later in different flavors. But not many have hit the wall quite like Fast & Furious. One of the biggest, stupidest Hollywood franchises around is now slated to end its main run of movies in April 2027 with Fast XI. It's an end that can't come soon enough, honestly. Fast X's biggest crime wasn't being half a movie—though of summer 2023's trio of half-movies, it was easily the worst of the bunch—but how much it confirmed the series' fumes had finally diminished. The question of where this series goes has always hung around post-Furious 7, which only felt conclusive because it suddenly had to be retooled as a farewell to the late Paul Walker and his character, Brian O'Connor. The writers for these characters likely weren't thinking long-term prior to Walker's passing, so it's impossible to know how this franchise would've gone on otherwise. For better or worse, Brian was an anchor being (ugh) for Fast & Furious, and things have fallen apart without him. The sequels have tried to position different characters to fill that void, but the attempted candidates—Little Nobody in Fate of the Furious, Dom's brother Jakob in F9, and ex-Fast baddies Luke Hobbs and Deckard Shaw—are either too green or too experienced to really settle in with the other characters, who've all been playing the same notes throughout the Fast saga. People have never really been these movies' strong suit, but it's increasingly felt like the cast is on autopilot until it's time for a car scene or stunt, not helped by the gradual pivot from an ensemble piece to 'The Dom Toretto Show (and Friends)' and increasingly dubious character swerves. (Vin Diesel's refusal to share the spotlight with anyone else may be the franchise's biggest flaw, and if you don't believe me, go watch Dungeons & Dragons to see how much more awake Michelle Rodriguez is compared to these movies. Actually, go watch that anyways because it's great.) Such nonsense can be forgiven in, say, Mission: Impossible, but those movies have smaller casts and generally employ more restraint. In the past, Fast embracing idiocy made for a fun spectacle; watching the final act of Furious 6 in theaters with a crowd was a deliriously good time. But stunt-wise, the series might've peaked with Seven or Fate, something the creative forces seem to have finally admitted to themselves. On its face, Diesel's promise of Fast XI being set in LA and returning to the car culture and street antics of the first film isn't a bad thing and may even result in some more inventive set pieces now that they have to rein themselves back in. It'll just always be funny how the series' next escalation is a de-escalation that'll have to skirt by its last movie's cliffhanger ending and hope Dwayne Jonshon and Jason Momoa's purported double act can help square that circle when or if the time comes. Come April 2027, I will likely be there in the theaters watching Fast XI with everyone else to see how things end. The series has enough good entries under its belt to warrant seeing it through to the end and seeing the inevitably messy way they bring Brian back into the fold. I just wish it were going out on better terms after all the goodwill it'd built up with its middle entries. But we got Brazil and the longest airport runway in the world, so at least there's that. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
