Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XVIII

I t was Thanksgiving Weekend, 2013, when The Fast and the Furious star Paul Walker lost his life in a tragic car accident, aged just 40. Shooting of the seventh instalment of the billion-dollar film franchise was already half complete and Universal was faced with a tough decision on what to do: scrap production or continue on in the handsome actor’s memory. For co-stars Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese and Ludacris, the shock of Walker’s passing was agonising. For ‘brother’, Vin Diesel, the pain was too much to bear. “There’s no one like him. There will never be anyone like him,” he explains. “And it’s a very tricky task as an actor, what to do. What was going to happen?” The studio pushed ahead with production, recruiting Walker’s lookalike brothers Caleb and Cody to help complete unfinished scenes. Now fans of the series, which has taken over $2.3 billion, can pay poignant respect to Walker as his team, including Diesel’s maverick character Dominic Torretto, find themselves toe to toe with Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), brother of 6’s twisted villain, Owen Shaw (played by Luke Evans) out for revenge for the death of his brother. The action is as glossy and fast-paced as ever, with locations including LA, Tokyo and Abu Dhabi providing the backdrop. And the seventh film marks a remarkable milestone for 47 year-old Diesel, a flamboyant, grizzled Hollywood tough guy, who used his rippling brawn and booming trademark tones to become one of the industry’s highest earning heavy hitters after mammoth success with Pitch Black and the XXX franchises. A former New Yorker bouncer, bornMark Sinclair Vincent, he returns to his biggest role to date as street racer and wanted fugitive Toretto, hot on the heels of his international box office success playing a monosyllabic tree, Groot, in Guardians of the Galaxy. But it’s his family life that seems to take pride of place for the Hollywood star. In a relationship with Mexican model, Paloma Jimenez, mother of his children Hania (6), three year-old Vincent and a new addition on the way, he talks of the difficulties making the latest Furious instalment, his softer side and a life-changing experience. The Interview Q: One can only assume this was a very difficult film to work on after Paul’s passing. DIESEL: Very difficult, very difficult. And very surreal. Like nothing I’ve ever experienced. I felt blessed because there was such a sense of family. But you never think as an actor – and I’ve been acting for a long time, since before I left high school – you would never imagine that you would have to mourn someone so close to you and simultaneously pretend they’re sitting next to you. It’s a strange thing to do as an artist. And as a human. It’s the hardest film I’ve ever done. Ever. It was awful tomourn him and yet work surrounded by him in so many ways. It literally changed me as a person. Q: What was it like having his brothers on set? DIESEL: Surreal. Again, surreal. The whole thing was surreal. To have them there, to see them. They look so like him, they remind me so much of him. Yeah... it was... On some levels, it was so comforting to know that his family, his close brothers were lending us their assistance and support. But then having them there was just this constant trigger on your emotions. Their presence triggered really strong memories. Unintentionally at times, really strong emotions and feelings that were difficult to process and exist and work with on a day to day basis. I remember, on my first day back to set, I’m in a scene where I run over Jason Statham’s car, and I kept crying. I couldn’t stop. I kept having to take breaks and come back composed and would crumble again. And this couldn’t be further from who I’mplaying. I’m supposed to be in killer mode. And yet, just being in the vehicle that was synonymous with Paul and myself, was so hard to get through. It’s literally the hardest thing I’ve ever done. 1 4 5 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I