The co-stars of deceased actor Paul Walker are "too distraught" to return to work on 'Fast & Furious 7' this week in the wake of his death, with the film's upcoming UAE shoot likely to be delayed.
Production on the movie blockbuster, which began filming in September, is expected to be put back after the star, 40, was killed in a crash at a charity car show in California, on Saturday.
Filming was scheduled to take place in the UAE next month, with Walker due to film scenes at landmarks in the capital. One source said: “No one wants to even think about the movie. Period.”
Other sources also told gossip website TMZ.com that Walker was scheduled to shoot key scenes for the film this week in Atlanta, Georgia. The insider said that several members of the film’s cast and crew, who were supposed to fly to Atlanta to resume filming today, but they won’t be returning to the set any time soon as they are “too distraught” to work and expect that the film’s production will be halted.
Universal Studios, the company behind the franchise, has yet to comment, but sources revealed that the script will require some major rewrites. Walker’s ‘Fast & Furious’ co-star Tyrese Gibson broke down in tears while visiting the scene of his death on Sunday.
The 34-year-old actor and rapper remained silent as he walked up to the site carrying a yellow flower, but was reduced to tears as he approached the scene.
“Paul is the heartbeat of this franchise and we’re gonna see to it that his energy and presence lives on forever,” Gibson later posted on his Instagram account.
Walker’s fans erected a makeshift memorial near the site of his fatal car crash on Monday as investigators worked to determine the cause of the wreck. The LA County Sheriff’s Department said speed was a factor in the crash. Sheriff’s deputy Peter Gomez said investigators were trying to determine how fast the car was travelling and what caused it to lose control, including whether the driver was distracted or something in the road prompted him to swerve.
After the Porsche crashed into a light pole and tree, it burst into flames. The downed light pole carried a speed limit sign of 72kph.
