If they can use holograms to get Tupac back on stage to perform, we suppose anything is possible. So perhaps it isn’t a surprise that Universal is holding the gears together on their lucrative “Fast & Furious” franchise by using a bit of digital trickery to keep one of the key cast members in the rotation.
The sudden death of Paul Walker found the studio shutting down production and contemplating starting the movie over from scratch. But after some time, the decision was made to push back the release date and keep Walker’s character in the movie by using the existing footage he had shot. But that won’t be all. According to a source speaking to New York Daily News, “They have hired four actors with bodies very similar to Paul’s physique and they will be used for movement and as a base. Paul’s face and voice will be used on top using CGI.”
Respectful? Gaudy? Maybe both. It’s a solution, we suppose, and probably one that made more financial sense than starting the entire movie all over again or having Walker’s character suddenly disappear Poochie-style midway through the sequel.
Anyway, we’ll see how it all looks and if we can tell the difference when “Fast & Furious 7” drops on April 10, 2015.
Gosh, even death can't save someone from appearing in the low brow Fast and Furious franchise?
What must a man do to quit that movie series?
Getting bald: nope (see Diesel)
Have a mumbling speech impediment: nope (same guy)
Getting eclipsed by a more charismatic version of him: nope (same guy)
You can't escape death, taxes and fast and furious.
I think they get a pass since, from my understanding, they already filmed most of the film with Paul Walker. Now if they tried to do the same thing for next movie them it'd be disrespectful.
Shout out to "Poochie-style" hahaha
That sounds very creepy. Not seeing how this will work. A computer-enhanced voice? Sounds like a terrible idea to me.
I don't see it as disrespectful, as long as it is disclosed to the audience and is approved of by Walker's family. In the end its a movie! Why not do whatever you can tastefully to give fans his final scenes and complete his character's story. It seems more disrespectful if they scrapped all of his scenes and cut him from the movie completely.