'Fast 8' Cast News: Scott Eastwood Joins Cast, Pays Touching Tribute To Paul Walker
"Fast 8," the hotly anticipated eighth installment in the "Fast and Furious" franchise, has the daunting task of setting off the rest of the film series without its star, Paul Walker, who died in a car crash while the seventh movie was being filmed.
Now, it appears that the filmmakers behind "Fast 8" will be attempting to fill the void left by Walker, who played Brian O'Connor in the film, by adding as many new characters in the next installment as they can. Following the announcement of "Mad Max: Fury Road" actress Charlize Theron's casting in the upcoming sequel, Scott Eastwood, a friend of Walker's, has now confirmed that he will also be joining the "Fast 8" cast.
Eastwood, the son of legendary screen icon Scott, recently announced his casting via an Instagram post in which he also spoke about Walker and the late actor's influence on him. Eastwood spoke about how Walker was "an older brother" to him and how getting to work in "Fast 8" is "a dream come true." In the post, the actor also shared some details about his role in "Fast 8."
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"It's hard to put into words how excited I am for the next 'Fast & Furious,'" Eastwood wrote. "To me, the series is so much more than just a franchise. It's a legacy. These great actors who have been in it together for so long have become a family. I absolutely can't wait to join it."
"Paul was a close friend of mine," the actor shared. "We surfed together, traveled together, and he was a huge role model and influencing figure in my life when I was younger. He still is."
Though Eastwood admitted that he couldn't reveal too much about his character, he did say that he will play a new character who works under Kurt Russell, a childhood hero of his, in the film.
In the post, the actor also took the opportunity to thank "Fast and Furious" star Vin Diesel for his support and told director Gary Gray and producer Neal Moritz that he can't wait to get started on the film.
"Paul—I am going to make you proud," he concluded the post.
"Fast 8" opens April 14, 2017.
