Overview
- In September 2026 Cody Walker told Entertainment Weekly he will not serve as a physical stand‑in to recreate his late brother Paul Walker’s Fast & Furious character for the franchise finale.
- Walker said modern tools — including artificial intelligence and unused archival footage combined with face‑replacement visual effects — could technically recreate Paul Walker’s on‑screen likeness.
- He argued the final decision belongs to Meadow Walker, Paul’s daughter, whose close relationship with Vin Diesel and public appearances give her views particular weight in the debate.
- Vin Diesel has publicly pushed for a Dom‑and‑Brian reunion and outlets report Fast Forever is scheduled for release on March 17, 2028, but it remains unclear whether the filmmakers will include Brian or how they would do so.
- The situation recalls how Furious 7 used Cody and Caleb as stand‑ins plus VFX to complete Paul Walker’s farewell, and it raises concrete ethical and emotional questions about consent, family wishes, and the use of AI to resurrect deceased actors.