Paul Walker will be replaced by CGI and body doubles in F&F7

"Justin Young" (jus1029)
03/24/2014 at 11:59 • Filed to: Paul Walker

Shooting has now resumed for "Fast & Furious 7," and Confidenti@l has learned exactly how Paul Walker will remain in the film.

"They have hired four actors with bodies very similar to Paul's physique and they will be used for movement and as a base," one source close to production tells us. "Paul's face and voice will be used on top using CGI."

Our insider adds that this is option number one producers and Universal Pictures have decided on, and that the studio feels confident fans of the franchise will feel satisfied with the result.

What do you think, Oppo? Are they doing the right thing?

DISCUSSION (14)

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Justin Young
03/24/2014 at 12:02

I feel it's a risky move, I'm not so keen on this.

Crocket Bernet > Justin Young
03/24/2014 at 12:02

That's not cool, using a dead mans face and voice to sell your movie, there's just something morally wrong about that. Even if I did think it is acceptable it is still way too soon for the studio to do this.

Timmy - MINI With a Big Blower > Crocket Bernet
03/24/2014 at 12:06

Fucking thank you. I came to say the same thing.

Battery Tender Unnecessary > Justin Young
03/24/2014 at 12:07

I'd rather them go all Roger Rabbit/Cool World and do an animated Paul Walker. I mean, the movies are live action cartoons, in the best way, anyway.

vdub_nut: scooter snob > Crocket Bernet
03/24/2014 at 12:12

I'm not saying it makes it right (nor am I disagreeing with you), but there are plenty of famous people who died during the production of a movie, and the studio still finished the movie. Hopefully they put some of the profits toward his charity, at least.

Harris Lue > Justin Young
03/24/2014 at 12:14

With most of the footage completed I doubt that this will be used very extensively and will probably only be for the deviated plot to have him ride out into the sunset. They're probably going to use the same technology for Arnold in Terminator 5, but he's still alive so it's slightly different.

PS9 > Crocket Bernet
03/24/2014 at 12:17

But bro, you don't understand. You know how well written and put together the story of those cash grabs movies are. Those scripts are carefully crafted works of art and Walker was the lynch pin! You act like everything would have been fine if they'd just picked another B-level actor to fill the role. It's like you think we aren't watching these movies for perfect storytelling execution and oscar caliber acting. Do you honestly believe tacking street racing and explosions to a shitty script can sustain a seven-movie franchise? I assure you sir, it cannot!

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > vdub_nut: scooter snob
03/24/2014 at 12:18

It can be done respectfully, I don't think anyone had any problem with The Crow for example. It depends on how his character is treated in the movie and like you said a charitable donation would go a long way to making things better.

Crocket Bernet > vdub_nut: scooter snob
03/24/2014 at 12:20

I see what you are saying but I think something like the Dark Knight did was alright, Heath Ledger had filmed 90% of the movie and they left his storyline hanging (excuse the pun). While the Fast and the Furious is basically replacing Paul Walker with smoke and mirrors at a very early stage of filming.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Justin Young
03/24/2014 at 12:23

I wonder how the other actors feel. Supposedly F&F was a tight knit group. They might find this extremely distasteful or difficult.

Jagvar > Justin Young
03/24/2014 at 12:45

The source for this is the New York Daily News , so I remain pretty skeptical for now.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Justin Young
03/24/2014 at 12:53

I'm really wondering how they'll reproduce his voice?!?! I was hoping for somewhat of a rewrite that would have him exiting the movie with minimal trickery.

Also I don't know how much is left to film, so maybe it isn't so bad.

PS9 > Jagvar
03/24/2014 at 14:11

Hmm... could be a trial balloon. If it pops, they could always play the 'questionable outlet making up shit' card.

The WB > Justin Young
03/27/2014 at 10:48

Since matters of "honor" and "decency" are so subjective, all I'll say is that I would rather see a completed, if changed, version of something Paul Walker helmed and cared enough to attach himself to (The F&F Franchise) than just see the project mothballed because of the tragedy.

The fact that we can use technology to help finish the film, to me, gives my limited, movie-based view of Paul Walker's work a better sense of closure.