The late Paul Walker may reappear as his iconic character Brian O'Conner in the upcoming final installment of the "Fast & Furious" franchise, with his brother Cody Walker suggesting the use of artificial intelligence and existing footage.
Cody Walker, who along with his brother Caleb stood in for Paul in "Furious 7" after the actor's death in 2013, indicated that he personally would not participate in the franchise's eleventh film. His decision, he stated in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, hinges on the wishes of Paul's daughter, Meadow Walker.
"My stance is, it’s what [Paul’s daughter] Meadow wants to see done; it’s her father,” Cody said. “I would not be interested in doing that again.”
He expressed satisfaction with how the character was written out of the series, describing Brian's retirement to a quiet life with his family as a fitting and respectful send-off. "They didn’t kill him off, they didn’t do something cheesy like that,” Cody noted. “It’s beautiful, [Brian] is off raising his kids."
However, Cody acknowledged the potential for a return using modern technology. "AI was not a thing back in 2014, so they could do that. There’s years of footage that was never used from these other ‘Fast’ films. They’re the best in the business, they can figure that out,” he said.
This possibility was echoed by franchise star and producer Vin Diesel, who teased the return of Brian O'Conner during an appearance at FuelFest in June 2025. Diesel mentioned to fans that he had presented the studio with three conditions for the finale, slated for April 2027: returning the franchise to Los Angeles, re-emphasizing car culture and street racing, and reuniting his character, Dom Toretto, with Brian O'Conner.
While Diesel did not elaborate on the specifics of Brian's return, he noted that CGI was used to create Brian's farewell scene in "Furious 7," released in 2015, after Walker's death during production. Walker was 40 years old at the time of his passing.
Diesel has maintained a close relationship with Meadow Walker since her father's death, describing her as a significant part of his family. He recently spoke of her support during a 25th-anniversary screening for the franchise in Los Angeles, calling her "the first one to ever call me on Father’s Day" and emphasizing his deep gratitude and affection for her.
"I would die for her,” Diesel said. He also paid an emotional tribute to Paul Walker at the event, reflecting on their shared history and brotherhood within the "Fast & Furious" saga.