Universal Pictures will move forward with “Fast & Furious 7,” even after the tragic car-accident death of franchise lead Paul Walker in November, according to co-star Vin Diesel.
After several weeks of mourning and uncertainty, Diesel took to his Facebook page late on Sunday to leave a tribute for Walker, before eventually confirming a 2015 release date for the next installment.
“The last scene we filmed together,” he wrote in the post, referring to the photo above. “There was a unique sense of completion, of pride we shared… in the film we were now completing… the magic captured… and, in just how far we’ve come… ‘Fast and Furious 7′ will be released… April 10th 2015! P.s. He’d want you to know first…”
Walker was in the passenger seat of his friend Roger Rodas’ limited edition Porsche when the vehicle hit a light post, careered off the road and erupted into flames. Both Walker and Rodas died instantly. Walker and the rest of the “Fast & Furious 7” cast were on Thanksgiving break from filming when the accident took place.
News of the “Fast & Furious 7“ release date comes after weeks of speculation and skepticism about the franchise’s future following Walker’s death. Universal shut down production on the film while it mulled over how to proceed without Walker as the actor still had several segments to shoot.
The studio decided to go ahead with the filming when writer Chris Morgan and director James Wan, reportedly, devised a plot that retires Walker’s character from the series, using scenes already shot. The film was originally scheduled for a July 11, 2014 release.
In other Vin Diesel news, Marvel Studios and director James Gunn confirmed he will play the walking, talking tree in “Guardians of the Galaxy,” the new Marvel superhero ensemble set to hit theaters next summer. According to MTV, Gunn was first to confirm the news, using Facebook to post a picture of Vin Diesel posing with a Groot model.
“He was never announced,” the director said. “He said he wanted to do it and we said we were talking to him. Everything else was people guessing and thinking they knew what was going to happen.”
Marvel confirmed the casting with some hours later.
“Guardians of the Galaxy“ hits theaters on Aug. 1.
