Paul Walker’s Brother Refuses to Stand In for ‘Fast 11’: Brian May Be Recreated Using AI

Brian O’Conner may return to screens in the final chapter of the Fast & Furious saga, but the late actor’s family members will not be standing in for him this time. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Paul Walker’s younger brother Cody stated that he has no intention of repeating his experience as a body double from the seventh installment, adding that the final decision regarding the character’s return should rest with the actor’s daughter, Meadow Walker.

Furious 7’s Legacy and Archival Footage Over Body Doubles

Following Paul Walker’s death in a car crash in late 2013, production on Fast & Furious 7 was completed with the help of his brothers Cody and Caleb, as well as actor John Brotherton, followed by CGI face replacement from Wētā Digital. At the time, the filmmakers chose not to kill off the character on screen: Brian quietly left his criminal past behind to raise his children.

Cody Walker considers that farewell scene at the fork in the road an ideal conclusion to the story and does not want to personally be involved in altering it. As reported by Entertainment Weekly, the actor’s brother noted that advancements in computer graphics have eliminated the studio’s need for physical stand-ins: “With today’s generative AI technology and the massive amount of unused footage from previous films, they could easily bring Brian back on their own.”

However, the use of neural networks remains just a technical hypothesis on Cody’s part for now: Universal Pictures has not yet commented on official visualization details.

Vin Diesel’s Condition and Fast Forever Release Date

The character’s appearance in the final movie itself is considered virtually inevitable. Vin Diesel, who plays Dominic Toretto, has publicly stated that reuniting with Brian is one of his mandatory requirements for the saga’s conclusion.

The eleventh installment of the franchise is officially titled Fast Forever. According to Variety magazine, filming will begin toward the end of the year, with a theatrical release set for March 17, 2028. In what format audiences will see the iconic character remains to be decided by the filmmakers together with Walker’s family.