Tonight, TF1 Séries films is broadcasting the seventh installment of the Fast and Furious saga. A turning point for the franchise, it marks the final appearance of Brian O’Conner. He was a key component of the Fast and Furious saga, and it almost ended with the death of its actor.
In 2013, Paul Walker was the victim of a car accident while returning from a charity gala. He was the passenger in a vehicle that his friend lost control of and collided with a lamppost and several trees. Both men died; Paul Walker was 40 years old. At that time, filming for Fast and Furious 7 was in full swing. 50 to 60% of the shots were completed. Brian was then essential to the plot and the producers and director questioned the merits of making this seventh film after the tragedy. Screenwriter Chris Morgan explained to Collider in 2017.
He added that after several months, it seemed obvious that he had to make this feature film "a cathartic experience to say goodbye to him. So everything came down to that last sequence."
The screenwriter refers to the final images, which show Dom and Brian driving side by side in their cars. Set to "See you again" by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth, the film illustrates the hero's desire for serenity. A father and husband, the former police officer decides to retire from the crime scene to live happily with his family. Dominic, however, intends to continue his momentum. The two friends therefore agree to go their separate ways, after seven adventures full of twists and turns.
What did the ending look like before Paul Walker's death?
This ending was obviously different from the one envisioned by the screenwriter, who hoped to be able to put Paul Walker at the heart of all the following films. When asked about the first draft of the script, he explained in 2017: “If I remember correctly, the original ending was that our guys finally solved the problem and became outlaws again. It was a happier ending.” He added that the finale implied they were already planning a new heist or mission.
Brian still had to question his place in this world. “This is a guy who was a police officer, in the thick of it, a pilot, and all that with a great wife, a kid, and another on the way.” The idea was to show that, while he missed the action, his family and being there for them mattered more.
The saga finally continued
Even after filming was complete, thanks to scenes shot before Walker's death and the participation of his brothers and digital effects, the Fast and Furious teams considered ending on this note. A sunset farewell to a saga that had occupied its main actors for nearly 14 years. “It could have been the end of the franchise. We thought maybe we could let it go and leave on a good note. We all agreed not to come back to it unless we had a radically different story worth making.”
That story was the story of the eighth film, released in theaters two years later. An eleventh installment is due out soon, and is widely touted as the final installment in the series.
Regarding Paul Walker's character, he will be regularly mentioned by the characters, and his car will be shown several times during the final meals. His shadow continues to hang over the franchise, if only through the journey of his wife Mia.
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