Editor’s Note: The following contains Fast X spoilers.Paul Walkerhasn’t appeared in any of theFast & Furiousmovies sinceFurious 7. However, since his passing in 2013 during the production of the seventh installment,the franchise hasn’t forgotten about the actor and his character Brian O’Conner. Even asFast Xmarks the “beginning of the end” for the franchise,Vin Dieselpromises that Paul Walker’s Brian O’Conner will still play an important rolein the finale. Diesel toldTotal Film, “That moment in 2013 when the world was struggling with his loss, the studio made a very bold and righteous and daring decision to keep Brian O’Conner alive.” Since then, Brian has remained off-screen, spending most of his time taking care ofhis and Mia’s (Jordana Brewster) children. But that doesn’t mean Brian’s role in the franchise has diminished. In fact, Paul Walker’s absence andBrian’s continued involvement in the franchise story make for a touching tributeto the actor and character. InFast X, that continues to be the case. Even though Paul Walker doesn’t appear in the film, Brian O’Conner is still very much part of the “Fast” family off-screen and even Walker’s own family remains involved in the franchise.
Over many missions and against impossible odds, Dom Toretto and his family have outsmarted and outdriven every foe in their path. Now, they must confront the most lethal opponent they’ve ever faced. Fueled by revenge, a terrifying threat emerges from the shadows of the past to shatter Dom’s world and destroy everything – and everyone – he loves.
Brian Is Retired and Now a Stay-At-Home Dad
Ever since Paul Walker’s last appearance as Brian O’Conner inFurious 7, his character has been trying tobalance his family life with the “fast” life.He and Mia just had a son in the previous film. So, instead of driving luxury cars on a globe-trotting, high-stakes mission,Brian is competing with other parents at the school parking lot to pick up his son from school.Although he does get pulled into the fight against Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), the ending ofFurious 7clearlysets up Brian’s retirement as a stay-at-home dad.The decision to keep his character out of future missions is, of course,tied to Paul Walker’s unfortunate passing during the production ofFurious 7.But it is also a great tribute and sendoff to Walker’s legacy. At the end of the film, Brian and Mia are playing with their son on the beach while the rest of the team — their family — look on from a distance. “That’s where he belongs,” Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) says. Dom adds, “Home. Where he’s always belonged.”
In each successive sequel, Brian’s role as a family man stays true to that final scene inFurious 7. InThe Fate of the Furious, Brian is only mentioned in a brief exchange between Roman (Tyrese Gibson) and Letty, who says, “We can’t bring Brian and Mia into this. We agreed on that.” Even if he isn’t around,the rest of the Fast family is still looking out for Brian, Mia, and their children(in addition to their son, they now have a daughter). ButF8pays homage to Paul Walker in another way.Dominic Toretto discovers that his former partner, Elena Neves (Elsa Pataky), has been raising their child.Although the villain ofThe Fate of the Furious, Cipher (Charlize Theron), tragically executes Elena, Dom takes it upon himself to raise their son with Letty.As a tribute to Paul Walker’s character, Dom names his son Brian, who later takes on the nickname Little B.
InF9and in the most recent entry in the franchiseFast X, Brian remains offscreen. In addition to taking care of his son and daughter,he has also been the team’s go-to babysitter while they go off on their dangerous missions.InF9, when Dom and Letty are pulled back into the action by facing off against Dom’s brother Jakob (John Cena), Little B goes into hiding and safekeeping with the bigger Brian. As both Dom and Jakob’s sister, Mia also joins the mission. So,Brian really is the real MVP for looking after the Fast children all by himself.Brian does make it to the barbecue in the end, albeit off-screen, as his blue Nissan Skyline races into Dom’s driveway. And inFast X, when Mia realizes that her family is in danger from the vengeful Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa), she goes off to warn Brian and their children. The fate of the Toretto-O’Conner family remains to be seen sinceFast Xdoes end on a cliffhanger.
Brian Returns Through Flashbacks and Memories in ‘Fast X’
As mentioned above,Dante Reyes is out for revenge against Dominic Toretto and his family. Back inFast Five,Dom and Brian were instrumental in stealing the Reyes family’s wealthby towing a vault throughout the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and leaving behind a path of destruction, including the death of Dante’s father Hernan Reyes. If the events ofFast Fiveweren’t clear enough,Fast Xmakes sure to include flashbacks from the previous film. Not only are scenes from the fifth installment intercut in much of the opening prologue that sets up the film’s villain butnew scenes are also included that retroactively put Jason Momoa’s fanatical villain into the events ofFast Five.Since then, Dante has been studying the history of the entire Fast family and following their every move. Brian appears in many of Dante’s “vision boards” that mark him and his family as a target. Again, although Mia goes off to join Brian and their children,whether they got out of Dante’s sights remains unclear. But Dante isn’t the only one concerned with the past.
Dom has also been thinking about his rich history and memories with his Fast family. He keeps a collage of his family and friends in his garage. After the obligatory family barbecue, he looks through those photographs dating back to his first meeting with Brian O’Conner in the originalThe Fast and the Furious(2001). As he reminisces, a brief instrumental version of “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth plays.The record-breakingsong first debuted inFurious 7as a tribute to the late Paul Walkerand has become synonymous with theFast & Furiousfranchise. Furthermore, Dom seems to always have his brother-in-law in mind. When he is talking toDaniela Melchior’s character Isabel,Dom mentions how he and Brian had been on opposite ends of the law when they first met.In the first film, Dom ran a crew of street-level thieves and street racers, while Brian was an undercover LAPD cop tasked with bringing him in. But throughout the film and the rest of the franchise,Dom and Brian put aside their differences and become brothers. This enemy-to-family arc is a formula that has worked for almost everyFast & Furiousmovie (most notably Deckard Shaw and Jakob Toretto). But ultimately,bringing up the memory of Paul Walker’s Brian O’Conner is just one way the franchise continues to honor the actor and his character.
Jason Momoa’s ‘Fast X’ Villain Finally Upends This Aspect of the Franchise
With his ‘Fast X’ performance, Jason Momoa tosses the classic Fast & Furious villain trope out this window and races toward a different future.
A Fitting Cameo Reminds Us of Paul Walker’s Legacy
While Brian O’Conner lives on throughout the continuity of the franchise, Paul Walker, unfortunately, cannot return in real life. However,Walker’s family has been a significant part of the Fast family behind the scenes.This was especially the case during the production ofFurious 7when his brothersCody and Caleb Walker finished his scenes with the help of CGI.
InFast X,a cameo from Paul Walker’s daughter and only child reminds us of what the actor left behindin real life.Meadow Walkerfirst teased her cameo in an Instagrampost thanking directorLouis Leterrierfor the opportunity. She wrote, “The first fast [sic] was released when I was one year old! I grew up on set watching my father, Vin, Jordana, Michelle, Chris, and more on the monitors. Thanks to my dad, I was born into the fast [sic] family.” In a more than fitting appearance during the film, Walker plays a flight attendant who helps “Uncle” Jakob and Little Brian escape from the Agency henchman. The fact that she helps Dom’s son, who is named after her own father’s character,is a powerful and sentimental homage to Paul Walker’s Brian O’Conner.
TheFast & Furiousfranchise really is about family, both in front of and behind the cameras.Because his character was integral to the very firstThe Fast and the Furiousand the other films, it is difficult to separate Paul Walker from the franchise. By keeping Brian O’Conner alive in continuity,Paul Walker’s presence is still a significant part of each successive filmsince his last appearance inFurious 7. And with the blessing and involvement of Paul Walker’s family, it’s great to see how a franchise that runs on fast cars and explosive action can still have a deeply personal touch.
Fast Xis available for streaming on Peacock Premium in the U.S.
