Paul Walker will always go down as a legend of the car movie genre. His genuine love of cars brought an authenticity to his role as Brian O’Conner in the Fast & Furious franchise that few other actors can lay claim to.
So when he tragically died in a car accident
while in the midst of shooting Furious 7, there just was no replacing him. To save the film and Paul’s performance, the movie’s producers enlisted the help of his family—namely, his younger brothers, Cody and Caleb Walker. Moving forward with the film after Paul’s death was likely a sensitive issue, and would probably have needed the consent of the Walker family anyway. But including Cody and Caleb proved to be the right move.
How did Cody and Caleb Walker fill in for their brother?
Cody and Caleb Walker’s participation in Furious 7 wasn’t exactly straightforward. Instead of having the two brothers simply fill in for Paul, the production team superimposed the star’s face onto his siblings using CGI.
Cody and Caleb acted their parts, but with the help of the sensors attached to their faces and bodies, fans saw Paul in the final product.
The end of the story was also changed to give Paul the send-off he deserved—a final shot of Brian O’Conner driving off into the sunset.
Cody and Caleb Walker were so happy with the end product that Page Six
says they are both open to reprising the role they shared with their older brother and each other. MORE: How 'Fast & Furious' Movies Make Drivers Feel More Connected With Their Cars
What does the future of the ‘Furious’ franchise look like?
Since Furious 7, Universal Pictures has moved forward, releasing two Paul Walker-less installments: The Fate of the Furious and F9. Both films continued down the path that Furious 7 started—changing the main characters from criminals into international spies.
All three movies were wildly popular at the box office, with Furious 7 and The Fate of the Furious raking in over $1 billion and F9 coming not too far behind with over $700 million. The numbers made the franchise the only legitimate competition for Marvel this past decade.
Suffice to say, it’s no wonder that a 10th film is set for release in April 2023. Originally set for Spring 2021, the blockbuster was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic
. Whether we can expect another CGI-supported cameo from the Walkers remains to be seen. MORE: Insuring the Cars From 'Fast & Furious 9' Would Cost a Pretty Penny
Insurance coverage for the ‘Fast & Furious’ movies
Anyone who’s seen even just one of the Fast & Furious movies would assume that car insurance
for the film’s production is insanely expensive. They’re not wrong, but it’s a little more complicated than you might think at first. Under normal circumstances, most of the cars used in the films have high premiums—average coverage for the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat in F9 is almost $11,000 a year.
Thankfully, Front Row Insurance
says cars in films are not generally covered under regular car insurance. Instead, they’re covered under a special type of policy—picture car insurance. Have a question about your coverage? Jerry’s friendly agents are here to answer your questions and provide advice on the best coverage options. As your life changes, your insurance changes, and Jerry is ready to make those adjustments for you.
4.7
