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Over the last six years, the Fast & Furious franchise has grown to become one of the biggest, most fun, and most surprising movie series to be on the big screen. Director Justin Lin really reinvigorated over the last four films, changing the formula, and really delving into the family that the series has built on screen, as well as off. But the series was dealt a huge blow last November when actor Paul Walker, who had been with the Fast & Furious since the beginning, was tragically killed in a car accident, leaving the seventh film in the series in a tough, and unprecedented spot. Would the film be finished, or would they cancel it outright?
But Vin Diesel, director James Wan, writer Chris Morgan, and the rest of the Fast & Furious family, with the help of Paul’s brothers Cody and Caleb, took the time to regroup, rescript, and decided to push forward and finish the film. The film, which was originally supposed to be out this month, has now finished production, and the official Fast and the Furious Facebook page posted a new photo from the film, announcing the film’s completion, as well as a very heartfelt letter to the fans which you can read below.
We made it.
Today we completed the last shot in the production of FAST & FURIOUS 7.
We wanted to take this moment to express how thankful we are for your support. We felt the love and strength from our fans throughout this journey, and it’s because of you that we got here.
There was a time when we didn’t know how we could go on, or even if we should. But we listened to you, and you inspired us not only to keep going but to try and make the best FAST & FURIOUS movie yet.
Our FAST family has been together for almost fifteen years now and has grown a lot in that time. From the start, Vin has been our leader who feels what’s right for FAST in his gut and in his heart. When we had to stop production last year, Vin gathered us back together and moved us forward when we needed it most. He led us to this day.
Some of us have been here from the very beginning. Vin, Michelle, Jordana and our producer Neal all go back to that first little movie we shot on the streets of LA. We came back to LA in FAST 7, and it was an especially emotional homecoming for those who’ve grown up with each other since that first shoot.
There are those we count as brothers who we gathered along the way and are with us again: Dwayne, Tyrese, Luda, Lucas and our writer, Chris. We’ve got some new additions this time in Jason, Kurt, Djimon, Nathalie and our director, James. Caleb and Cody joined us to honor their brother and help complete his work.
Our family is big and strong but it won’t ever quite be whole again without Paul.
All of us — those who’ve been here from the start and those whose first FAST film is 7 — wanted to create a special film for him and for you. We believe we have.
Thank you for being there for us. You are the biggest part of our family, and we couldn’t have gotten here without you.
The countdown to April 3 begins.
With love,
Your FAST & FURIOUS Family
Well, that definitely left me with a lot of feelings, and I’m really happy to see they’ve managed to finish the film. I look forward to seeing what they were able to do, and what they’ve done to honor Paul Walker.
Fast & Furious 7, which stars Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Jason Statham, Kurt Russell, Djimon Hounsou, and Lucas Black, and is directed by James Wan, is set for release April 3, 2015.
