Fast & Furious 7 to 'go ahead' after Walker's death

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Fast & Furious 7 will still go ahead following the sudden death one of its stars, Paul Walker, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The trade magazine quotes a source who said the production is facing a delay but the film will still be released.

Empire magazine's Helen O'Hara told the BBC that most of the film has been shot but still had to be completed.

Walker, 40, died on Saturday when a Porsche being driven by a friend, who also died, crashed near Los Angeles.

Walker's publicist. Ame Van Iden, named the driver as Roger Rodas, with whom the actor owned a luxury car business.

The cast and crew of Fast & Furious 7 were taking a break from filming during the Thanksgiving holiday but were scheduled to reconvene in Atlanta on Sunday.

Ms O'Hara said: "They will want to take some time - the key thing right now is that they have to do the right thing by Paul and his family… That said, it's an important series, they will still be keen not to abandon it."

Terry Gilliam faced a similar situation when Heath Ledger died while shooting The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Filming on the fantasy movie was halted temporarily before Jude Law, Johnny Depp and Colin Farrell were drafted in to portray various versions of Ledger's character.

Other film stars who have died mid-shoot include Brandon Lee (Crow) and Oliver Reed (Gladiator).

Richard Harris also died after filming his role as Professor Dumbledore in the second Harry Potter film, and was replaced in later instalments by Michael Gambon.

But the dilemma is particularly sensitive for Fast & Furious, said Ms O'Hara, given that the series revolves around high-speed street car racing.

'Tour de force'
Another film starring Walker, Hurricane Katrina drama Hours, will still be released in the US on 13 December, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The film's producer, Peter Safran, told the magazine: "He would have very much wanted us to move forward.

Paul Presburger, CEO of film company Pantelion Productions, told the Hollywood Reporter: "After lots of back and forth, this is our decision. It's Paul's tour de force. He's in every frame of the movie,"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25182688

[deebakes]

what are you going to do? hollywood is broke