This final ‘Fast and Furious’ movie, the twelfth instalment (!), is really a free-for-all, isn’t it? We’ve had dubious social media updates from Vin Diesel, including a false flag “it’s now shooting” video, and more recently, Diesel hinting that he might direct the entire thing.
We haven’t even tackled how Diesel wants Paul Walker’s Brian O’Conner to come back for this grand finale, which is currently titled “Fast Forever.” They already did something to this effect back in 2014 on “Furious 7,” with Paul’s brother, Cody, body doubling for his late brother.
Back in June 2025, Diesel had teased the “surprise” return of Brian in “Fast Forever.” Now, let’s pause there. Brian was last seen driving off into a sepia-toned sunset in 2015’s ‘Furious 7,’ a surprisingly tasteful farewell, considering the franchise’s general lack of subtlety. Walker’s real-life passing in 2013 led to his brothers, Cody and Caleb, stepping in alongside digital trickery to complete Brian’s final scenes. Since then, Brian’s been “alive” in-universe but kept wisely off-screen. Apparently, that restraint is over.
Well, speaking with EW, Cody confirms he will not return as a physical body double for his late brother Paul in “Fast Forever,” stating instead that modern AI technology will handle the job, if Paul’s daughter approves.
Cody points out that AI was not available back in 2014 during the production of “Furious 7,” and because this technology has advanced, filmmakers no longer need human stand-ins like Cody or his brother Caleb. Studio teams can use years of leftover, unreleased footage of Paul Walker combined with AI to recreate the character safely.
Regardless, the final decision will come down to Paul’s daughter, Meadow Walker. If Meadow wants to see her father’s character return in the final movie, Cody trusts the production team.
And so, the neverending saga of the next ‘Fast & Furious’ movie continues, having been plagued by delays and Universal demanding Diesel cut the budget by almost $150M. And if there’s one thing ‘Fast & Furious’ needs, it’s an ethical minefield right before it comes out. Bringing back a deceased actor’s likeness via AI might sound like something out of Black Mirror, but hey, if it sells tickets and fuels nostalgia, who’s counting the moral cost?
For now, “Fast Forever” is slated to hit theaters on March 17, 2028.
Von Trier sat down with his daughter, filmmaker Agnes Trier, for a 23-minute interview. It's the first time we've really seen him in years, and I'll be honest, it's tough to watch.