Furious 7is one of my favorite entries of theFast and Furiousfranchise. It’s packed to the brim with especially well executed thrills and also rocks one of the most powerful doses of family in the series. But on top of that, directorJames Wanand co. had to meet a devastating challenge, addressing the passing of starPaul Walker. I’ve seenFurious 7quite a few times at this point, but that ending both brings me to tears and fills my heart every single time. I truly can’t imagine a better way to honor Walker in this franchise.
Through the addition of new scenes that incorporated Walker’s brothers as stand-ins,Furious 7brought Brian O’Conner’s story to a close by having him drive alongsideVin Diesel’s Dom before veering off on his own path, something that suggests Brian lives happily ever after withJordana Brewster’s Mia and their children. Roman (Tyrese) does suggest calling Brian in to help inThe Fate of the Furious, but ultimately that option is off the table having promised to keep Brian and Mia free and clear of their dangerous missions. However, Mia does return inF9when it’s revealed that the crew’s latest assignment involves her estranged brother Jakob (John Cena).
During an episode ofCollider Ladies Nightwith Brewster, we discussed a little bit of everything from her first big gigs likeD.E.B.S.andThe Facultyto her earliest days in theFast and Furiousseries. When we hit theF9portion of the conversation, I had to ask her about the choice to put Mia back in the mix. After getting such a beautiful sense of closure inFurious 7, what was it that convinced Brewster that Mia needed to return for another installment? Here’s what she said:
“The way I came back was sort of an evolution. First I thought, ‘Okay, there’s a chance I won’t come back, I guess,’ and then slowly it sort of evolved where it became clear that I was coming back. We just needed for it to make sense, and with Jakob coming back - with Jakob coming in - it absolutely makes sense for me to be there. And the fact is, Brian will always be a part of the universe.”
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In addition to Walker’s character always having a presence in this series, Brewster also highlighted how the folks at the helm ofF9contributed to her confidence that Mia’s return would be handled appropriately:
“When I heard Justin [Lin] and Vin were handling it, I knew that Mia’s entry and also Brian’s legacy, all of it would be handled with grace. So I didn’t feel like I had to be like, these are my hard lines, because I trust those guys completely.”
You can catch Brewster in action as Mia again whenF9hits theaters on June 25th. Also, do keep an eye out for her full Collider Ladies Night conversation, which includes so much more about her run in theFast and Furioussaga and also memories from making theMr. & Mrs. Smithpilot,The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginningand so much more!
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