A rumor about the fate of the seventh film in the Fast & Furious franchise is now official. Universal is hitting the brakes on the production of Fast & Furious 7 after Paul Walker’s tragic death. The film has not been scrapped completely, but the production company as well as the cast, understandably want to put the film on hiatus in order to cope with the loss of their dear friend. It also will allow the studio to explore every option available to them in terms of how to proceed with the film in the wake of Walker’s untimely passing.
The sixth installment of the popular series is set to hit DVD and Blu-ray in the next week. Fast & Furious 6 has tallied a pretty hefty dollar amount in its life since release, so it is highly unlikely that the studio will abandon the series. Many stakeholders and fans view the delay as the best possible option and a necessary step, given how tragic Walker’s accident was. It has begged the question if the series will take more precautions in the future in regards to the insane stunts the films have become known for- even though the accident that took Walker’s life was not on set of the new film.
Walker was killed on December 2nd in a single vehicle accident from “traumatic” injuries sustained from the accident including severe burn injuries from the subsequent explosion from the car and resulting fire. The Fast & Furious franchise is known for its elaborate car chase sequences and daredevil stunts which are dangerous in almost any form, but the accident has undoubtedly cast a shadow on the safety of everyone involved. Safety issues as well as how to handle Brian O’Conner’s (Walker’s character from the franchise) departure from the central characters are likely going to be key talking points for the studio moving forward after this incident.
Universal plans to keep fans as up to date as possible in regard to if and when the production will kick back up, but for the time being they are focused on facilitating the healing process for family and friends of Walker. Keep your eyes peeled for news about Fast & Furious 7 as details become available.
What are your thoughts on the Fast & Furious franchise? How do you think the studio should proceed following Walker’s passing? Sound off below!
Via: Variety
