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New York — Universal Pictures has shut down production on Fast & Furious 7 indefinitely following the death of its star, Paul Walker.
The studio announced on Wednesday that the film will shut down "for a period of time so we can assess all options available to move forward with the franchise".
The seventh instalment of the street car racing series had begun shooting in September. While much of Fast & Furious 7 has been filmed, it's far from complete.
When Walker, 40, died in a fiery car crash on Saturday north of Los Angeles, the film was on break for the Thanksgiving holiday. Shooting had been planned to resume Monday in Atlanta, but production was put on hold following Walker's death.
Universal had been trying to fast-track Fast & Furious 7 for a 11 July release, a date that's likely to be postponed. Universal hasn't yet announced any release date change.
"Right now, all of us at Universal are dedicated to providing support to Paul's immediate family and our extended Fast & Furious family of cast, crew and filmmakers," the studio said in a statement.
Walker was killed by injuries from both the impact and subsequent fire when the high-powered Porsche driven by his friend crashed, according to autopsy results released Wednesday.
The actor died from the "combined effects of traumatic and thermal injuries", according to the autopsy released by the Los Angeles County coroner's office.
At the wheel was Roger Rodas, Walker's friend, financial adviser and co-owner of a professional racing team. The two died when Rodas' 2005 Porsche Carrera GT smashed into a light pole and tree, then exploded in flames.
Cause of accident still to be determined
Sheriff's investigators were still trying to determine what caused Rodas to careen out of control. They have said speed was a factor in the one-car crash northwest of downtown Los Angeles.
Rodas was killed by the impact alone, the doctor who performed the autopsy concluded. Results of toxicology testing for drugs or alcohol will take another six to eight weeks.
The limited-edition Porsche was previously owned by IndyCar driver Graham Rahal, who has said it was difficult to drive. It is not just fast — it can hit 160km/h in less than 7 seconds — but also unforgiving in its handling.
Walker starred in all but one instalment of the Fast & Furious franchise, which has been particularly lucrative for Universal. Fast & Furious 6, released in May, was the highest grossing film in the series, earning more than $788m worldwide.
Universal announced Tuesday that it will donate a portion of the proceeds from the upcoming DVD, Blu-ray and digital release of Fast & Furious 6 to Walker's charity Reach Out Worldwide.
Walker founded Reach Out Worldwide in 2010 to give first-response aid to victims of natural disasters. Walker was hosting a fundraiser for the non-profit on Saturday afternoon before the crash.
The studio announced on Wednesday that the film will shut down "for a period of time so we can assess all options available to move forward with the franchise".
The seventh instalment of the street car racing series had begun shooting in September. While much of Fast & Furious 7 has been filmed, it's far from complete.
When Walker, 40, died in a fiery car crash on Saturday north of Los Angeles, the film was on break for the Thanksgiving holiday. Shooting had been planned to resume Monday in Atlanta, but production was put on hold following Walker's death.
Universal had been trying to fast-track Fast & Furious 7 for a 11 July release, a date that's likely to be postponed. Universal hasn't yet announced any release date change.
"Right now, all of us at Universal are dedicated to providing support to Paul's immediate family and our extended Fast & Furious family of cast, crew and filmmakers," the studio said in a statement.
Walker was killed by injuries from both the impact and subsequent fire when the high-powered Porsche driven by his friend crashed, according to autopsy results released Wednesday.
The actor died from the "combined effects of traumatic and thermal injuries", according to the autopsy released by the Los Angeles County coroner's office.
At the wheel was Roger Rodas, Walker's friend, financial adviser and co-owner of a professional racing team. The two died when Rodas' 2005 Porsche Carrera GT smashed into a light pole and tree, then exploded in flames.
Cause of accident still to be determined
Sheriff's investigators were still trying to determine what caused Rodas to careen out of control. They have said speed was a factor in the one-car crash northwest of downtown Los Angeles.
Rodas was killed by the impact alone, the doctor who performed the autopsy concluded. Results of toxicology testing for drugs or alcohol will take another six to eight weeks.
The limited-edition Porsche was previously owned by IndyCar driver Graham Rahal, who has said it was difficult to drive. It is not just fast — it can hit 160km/h in less than 7 seconds — but also unforgiving in its handling.
Walker starred in all but one instalment of the Fast & Furious franchise, which has been particularly lucrative for Universal. Fast & Furious 6, released in May, was the highest grossing film in the series, earning more than $788m worldwide.
Universal announced Tuesday that it will donate a portion of the proceeds from the upcoming DVD, Blu-ray and digital release of Fast & Furious 6 to Walker's charity Reach Out Worldwide.
Walker founded Reach Out Worldwide in 2010 to give first-response aid to victims of natural disasters. Walker was hosting a fundraiser for the non-profit on Saturday afternoon before the crash.
