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
Source: Dailymail
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