Fast & Furious 7 filming recently wrapped up but Ludacris says that it was hard to complete the film following Paul Walker’s death.
After Walker died last November the production took a long break so the tight-knit cast and crew could properly mourn the star. Though he had been increasingly getting other roles, Walker was best known for being Brian O’Conner in the Fast & Furious franchise.
Ludacris told XXLMag that it was tough finishing the latest installment without Walker.
“It was definitely difficult, but at a certain time, we all came together and understood,” Ludacris said.
“We was 75 percent done before his untimely death. Us coming back together was definitely hard but there was also an understanding that we were going to finish this movie because that’s what he would have wanted us to do. Continue his legacy and leave an extremely huge mark with this film.”
Ludacris entered the franchise in the second movie, 2 Fast 2 Furious, and worked with Walker for nearly a decade.
Other stars that are regulars in the franchise include Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, and Tyrese Gibson.
Diesel also recently discussed the impact losing Walker had on his life and the franchise, saying in an appearance on Live With Kelly and Michael that “it’s a heavy thing.”
I grew up in the bouncer world, and we lost people while we were bouncing. But the brotherhood in Paul Walker was something completely different. It was someone that we — we grew up in the business together, and we became famous together, and we represented the biggest franchise together, and he was my partner, and it’s a strange thing to — I’ve been acting all my life and they don’t teach you in acting, how to mourn someone and simultaneously pretend they’re in a scene with you.”
“It’s one of the darker moments in my journey,” Diesel added. “You know, guys — it’s a rough one.”
Ludacris also said that fans will enjoy Fast & Furious 7, which is set to hit theaters on April 3, 2015.
“I think people’s breath is going to be taken away when they watch this one,” he said.
