Fast and Furious 8 Release Date: Paul Walker’s Daughter Meadow Walker Gives Touching Tribute On Father’s Day

By Mark Rollins
Paul Walker and Meadow Walker.
This was taken over 15 years ago.  Instagram

The Fast and the Furious is regarded as Universal's largest movie franchise, at least until Jurassic World came out.  Still, once the incredible success of Furious 7 was unleashed, it was only a matter of days before Universal Studios called and ordered up Fast and Furious 8.  We already know the film's release date, and a recent tribute from Paul Walker's daughter has raised some questions about the next film in the series. 

According to MTV, a Meadow Walker has recently posted a picture of her father in honor of her late father.  Meadow is the daughter and only child of Paul Walker, the star of the Fast and Furious film franchise, who passed away in a tragic car accident in November of 2013.  The picture shows Paul kissing a then-infant Meadow on the cheek with a caption simply reading "Happy Father's Day". 

The picture is a sweet memory of her father, and it is good that Vin Diesel is also paying tribute to Paul Walker the next film in the famed movie series.  Fast and Furious 8 will be the first film without Paul Walker from the beginning, and Vin Diesel, in paying tribute to his best friend, held back tears in the formal announcement as he said: "I swear to you and my brother upstairs, we are going to make the best movie you've ever seen".  You can rest assured that Diesel will put his heart in this story, which he is developing with producer Neil Moritz and writer Chris Morgan. Diesel has also mentioned  that "Fast and Furious 7 was for Paul, and [Fast and Furious] 8 is from Paul". 

So far, there isn't much known about Furious 8, other than there will be some new inclusions.  According to the Venture Capital Post, a recent announcement about Fast and Furious 8 has revealed that the film will have three actresses joining the cast that includes Ronda Rousey, Eva Mendes, and Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Eva Mendes, who might be reprising her character Monica Fuentes from 2 Fast 2 Furious, could get in the way of the romance between Vin Diesel's Dominic Torreto and Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez). 

The big question on everyone's minds is how do you replace Paul Walker?  Even though Vin Diesel is the name associated with the franchise, the original story was always about Paul Walker's character.  His brothers Cody and Caleb walker had to stand in for him because of his untimely death before the release of Furious 7, but his character is a void that demands to be filled for Fast and Furious 8.  Cody has previously expressed interest that he would like to work with Vin Diesel in Furious 8, according to Movie News Guide

According to Ecumenical news, Kurt Russell's character, Mr. Nobody, might not be in the next movie.  It is possible that he could make an appearance in Furious 9, Fast and the Furious 9, or whatever the title of that movie will be.    

The Fast and the Furious 8, Furious 8, or whatever it will eventually be called, will be released on April 14, 2017.