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Why Paul Walker Almost Left the 'Fast and the Furious' Franchise

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Paul Walker in ‘Fast & Furious’ (Universal)

Despite his many other screen credits, Paul Walker’s legacy as an actor will largely be defined by the front-and-center role he played as one of the twin anchors of the Fast and the Furious franchise. His Brian O’Conner was the hero of the original 2001 film, and he went on to appear in six of the saga’s seven films, making him the franchise’s most frequent star.

After his tragic death in 2013, the series had to bid him an emotional goodbye at the end of the current sequel Furious 7. But as the Los Angeles Times reminds us this week, Walker actually almost left the series before the fourth movie, 2009s Fast & Furious. Writer Amy Kaufman wrote a fond remembrance of Walker, including quotes from her 2011 interview with the actor, that the LAT published on Monday.

Related: That ‘Furious 7 Ending and Paul Walker’s Last Ride (Spoilers!)

The one Fast and the Furious film from which Walker was absent was the third, Tokyo Drift, which was largely considered a weaker entry in the saga (though some would beg to differ on that opinion). Its production was marked by studio interference and internal squabbles, and as Walker told Kaufman in 2011, he initially had no interest in returning for the unlikely fourth installment when Universal pitched it to him.

“I thought it was stale,” Walker said. “They were talking about my involvement with the fourth one and I was like, ‘Are you kidding me? Really?’ Obviously, we made the first one that catered to pop culture and a youth-driven audience. But trends shift overnight with that audience. Nine years later, I really questioned if there was even an audience anymore.” As Kaufman notes, Walker also had personal reasons for hesitating: He wanted to focus on fatherhood and his daughter Meadow for one, as well as devote more time to his charity work.

Related: Watch Glimpses of Paul Walker’s Final ‘Furious 7’ in “See You Again” Video

It took a few things to change his mind and get him to sign up for Fast & Furious, the movie that revived the series: A phone call from his pal and co-star, Vin Diesel (who could say no to him?), the physical challenges presented in Chris Morgan’s script, and the sense that the series’ emphasis on cars really connected with young men.

“The franchise raises questions about ‘What is the car?’” he said. “Really, it’s today’s horse — it’s the white horse, and it symbolizes a lot for guys. It’s a rite of passage. I’m a ride. I’m a man. I can provide for myself and put gas in the car.” Read more of Kaufman’s 2011 interview with Walker on the LA Times site.

Watch a video about how the cast came back to finish ‘Furious 7’ after Paul Walker’s death: