Director James Wan reveals that if actor Paul Walker had not tragically passed away, the ending of the high-speed blockbuster Furious 7 would have taken a different direction.
Last week, Furious 7 was the most talked-about movie worldwide. Premiering on April 3, the blockbuster grossed a total of $384 million, including $143.6 million in North America and $240.4 million from 63 international markets.
This is the record-breaking opening revenue for an April release in North America. The total earnings of $384 million are only surpassed by three other blockbusters in history: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 ($483.2 million), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ($394.4 million), and The Avengers ($392.5 million).
One of the reasons why Furious 7 became so popular was the desire of fans to see Paul Walker one last time on the big screen. The actor tragically passed away in November 2013 in a car accident while the film was still in production. Thanks to the efforts of his two brothers, Cody and Caleb Walker, along with special effects, Furious 7 was able to be completed.
The ending of Furious 7 features Paul Walker’s character, Brian O’Conner, “retiring” and returning to his wife, Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster), and son. Set against the song See You Again, the image of Brian and Dominic Toretto’s (Vin Diesel) cars taking different paths, followed by the screen fading to white—symbolizing an entry to heaven—brought many viewers to tears.
At the red carpet event for Furious 7 in Los Angeles, director James Wan revealed the original direction for the film’s ending.
James Wan, a 38-year-old filmmaker of Malaysian descent, said, “The original ending of the movie was very different. It was supposed to set up Fast & Furious 8, where Dominic Toretto and his family would face even greater challenges.”
“However, when tragedy struck, those plans became completely irrelevant. Universal didn’t put any pressure on us and understood that the priority at that time was to finish the film and turn it into a tribute to Paul Walker. What you saw is the result of that,” Wan added.
The entire Furious 7 film carries the atmosphere of a farewell, with the first half-hour of the movie showing two key scenes at a cemetery. Throughout the story, characters repeatedly refer to “one last ride.”
This is also the phrase that appeared on the black-and-white poster featuring Vin Diesel and Paul Walker.
Just before Furious 7 hit theaters, Vin Diesel kept hinting at Fast & Furious 8. At the film’s premiere in Beijing, China, he shared that the next blockbuster would explain why Han (Sung Kang) and Gisele (Gal Gadot) appeared in Hong Kong at the beginning of Fast & Furious 6.
As a result, Furious 8 is likely to be set in China.
In addition, Jason Statham, the “Transporter” star, fully supports the idea of bringing his villainous character, Deckard Shaw, back in the future or even teaming up with Dominic Toretto’s team on new missions.
In a chat with host Jimmy Kimmel on March 31, Vin Diesel revealed that some events in Furious 7 would set the stage for Furious 8, though he didn’t specify what those details would be.
The 46-year-old action star also mentioned that Kurt Russell’s character, “Mr. Nobody,” would have more screen time in the next installment. “Mr. Nobody” made his debut in Furious 7, where he sought to collaborate with Dominic Toretto’s team to find the “God’s Eye” device.
According to Vin Diesel, Furious 8 will take viewers to New York City. He believes that the crowded, congested streets there will provide an opportunity for the film team to create even more intense chase scenes, potentially even more thrilling than in previous films.
Given the current pace of ticket sales, industry observers believe that Furious 7 will likely be the first film in Universal’s history to surpass $1 billion in global revenue.
The massive success of the blockbuster will also present a challenge for Vin Diesel in making Furious 8. In fact, Universal has confirmed that at least three more Fast & Furious films will be produced in the near future.
Trailer for Furious 7:
