It looked like it was going to be another epic installment of one of the most overwhelming franchises, with a special point for the powerful confrontation against the incorporation of Jason Statham. Instead, Fast & Furious 7 was hit by the tragic loss of Paul Walker, who was more than just a protagonist of the saga. He was a pillar that was going to be impossible to replace.
Walker died in an accident in November 2013, when the Fast Saga movie was still in the middle of production and with several of its scenes still to be shot. The producers and director James Wan found themselves at a crossroads: cancel the film altogether or find solutions not only to make up for the actor’s absence, but to give him a farewell worthy of his status.
Through a variety of techniques, the seemingly impossible was achieved: 350 new frames to cover Walker’s absence and keep Brian O’Conner’s character important in the film. Having shot so many films was an advantage here, as many scenes were finished using discarded footage throughout the saga, giving it a new purpose.
A tribute to the height
There were, however, several action and dialogue sequences to complete. Some were completed with the help of Walker’s brothers, Caleb and Cody, who stood in for other actors in some sequences, and where the character’s face was required to be seen, some cutting-edge CGI facial replacement work was done.
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As much as possible, Paul’s own material was used, as his charisma was considered irreplaceable. So scenes were orchestrated around what was already there, such as that exciting climax that served as the perfect send-off for the character and for Walker. And, for some, the point where Fast & Furious should have ended in style.
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