With Universal deciding to move forward with Fast & Furious 7 rather than scrapping it, the only question left was how they planned to handle the character played by the late Paul Walker. Delaying the film nearly a full year has given screenwriter Chris Morgan and director James Wan time to make use of the footage Walker had already been featured in, enough that he remains alongside Vin Diesel at the top of the bill. But with atleast two more movies left in the series, there was still some question as to how they would write Brian O'Connor out.
According to THR, Fast & Furious 7 will "retire" O'Connor from the franchise, rather than doing what some suspected and killing the character off. Additional scenes will be written and filmed to account for his departure, but this is probably the wisest course of action due to the sensitivity of the situation. There's nothing on the status of Jordana Brewster's character but since she and O'Connor are new parents it likely means she'll be written out, as well.
Fast & Furious 7 hits theaters April 10th 2015.
