VOD Spotlight: Furious 7 Honors Paul Walker

While Furious 7 was in production in November 2013, Paul Walker, one of the stars of the series, was killed in an auto accident.

Producer Neal H. Moritz, who, alongside other actors in the series Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez, has been with Walker since the beginning of his career, said: “After the unfortunate passing of our good friend and colleague, Paul, there was a lot of talk among us that we were going to stop and not finish this movie. After some time, it dawned on us that Paul would want us to finish it. Vin and I talked about it, and we agreed that we had to do whatever it would take to finish this movie for him. We had to continue not in spite of what happened, but actually because of it. There’s a deep respect for who Paul was as a man, as a father and as a friend, and we weren’t going to put anything on screen that ever jeopardized that.

Furious-7_web“Then it came to how could we actually finish Furious 7,” the producer continued. “We had shot most of the movie with Paul, but we wondered how we were actually going to make this work. I have to say, he was looking down on us. Because of unused footage that we had from previous movies and the use of new technology, we were able to complete the film inspired by Paul’s spirit and give him and his best-known character a perfect cinematic send-off. This movie is a testament to his legacy.”

With the gracious assistance of Paul Walker’s brothers, Caleb and Cody as stand-ins, his final appearance on screen became a reality. Brewster, who has portrayed Mia Toretto beside Walker for the past 14 years, welcomed her longtime friends to the set and shared: “It’s been really special … and in a way surreal. I had a moment when I was driving with my son on a golf cart, and I remembered years ago on the first movie when Paul came on set with his daughter on his shoulders. It was a bit full circle that way. We all share a very special bond.”

Diesel also discussed why Furious 7 had to be the ultimate celebration of Walker’s life: “Paul was a brother to me. The relationships among the Fast family are deep and meaningful, and our characters would do anything for each other. That support and sense of family that exists in the film bleeds off screen with us. With this film, the whole world gets to feel a part of our family.”

 

Furious 7 is available beginning September 15 on Video On Demand. Check your cable system for availability.

© 2014 Universal Studios Credit: Scott Garfield

1 Comment

  1. You did a very class act in remembrance to Paul Walker, at the end of Furious 7. God bless you all.

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