But assuming Diesel actually goes through with his promise and does bring back Brian for the final chapter, how would they do it? The most straightforward and ethical decision would be to simply recast the role, possibly with one of Paul Walker’s brothers. Unused footage from earlier installments would be another option, but integrating scenes filmed years ago into a brand-new story could prove nightmarish in practice.
Disappointingly, the most likely scenario is that Diesel and Fast X director Louis Leterrier would bring Brian back using CGI. Furious 7 actually did this in the final scene, as they digitally integrated Paul Walker’s face onto his brother’s body (tellingly, it was only for a brief moment, and not a significant chunk of the movie). It’s become an increasingly common practice for major Hollywood blockbusters to digitally recreate deceased actors. Some of the most notable examples include Peter Cushing in Rogue One, Harold Ramis in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and Christopher Reeve in The Flash.
The ‘Fast and Furious’ star returns as one of his most beloved characters.
To put it simply, taking this approach with Paul Walker is a horrible idea, flat-out. While Walker’s family could technically consent to it, it’s still hard to imagine that Walker himself would’ve wanted it, and it risks almost entirely undermining the touching tribute he got in Furious 7 and disrespecting his memory. As egregious as Brian’s constant mentions in the later installments were, they at least felt well-intentioned. However, it’s infinitely harder to use that defense when bringing a dead actor back to life, if not altogether impossible.
Of course, it’s possible that Diesel could opt out of doing this; he’s often teased potential films and story threads for the series that have never come to fruition. We certainly hope that’s what happens with his biggest request for Fast and Furious 11, because it risks undoing so much of the goodwill the films have spent so long cultivating. Since it’s an idea that none of the fanbase seems particularly keen on, we beg you, Vin Diesel: leave Brian O’Connor alone