Vin Diesel confirms ‘Fast 11’ release window and teases Brian O’Connor’s digital return

Fans of the Fast and Furious franchise were sent into overdrive this weekend as Vin Diesel teased a potential return for Paul Walker’s beloved character, Brian O’Connor, in what he calls the saga’s final chapter — Fast and Furious 11, now confirmed for a tentative April 2027 release.

Speaking Saturday night at Fuel Fest, a car enthusiast event in Pomona co-hosted by Tyrese Gibson and Cody Walker (Paul Walker’s brother), Diesel made a surprise appearance and dropped a major hint about what lies ahead.

Addressing a roaring crowd, the Fast frontman said, “The studio said to me, ‘Vin, can we please have the finale of Fast and Furious [in] April 2027?’ I said, ‘Under three conditions.’”

Those conditions, Diesel revealed, were a return to the franchise’s roots: “Bring it back to L.A., return to real car culture and street racing,” and most shockingly, “Reunite Dom and Brian O’Conner.”

The third condition drew audible gasps — and questions. Walker tragically died in a car crash in 2013 at age 40, midway through production on Furious 7. His final scenes were completed using body doubles and visual effects, with his brothers Cody and Caleb assisting. The character Brian was retired, driving off into the sunset in what became one of the franchise’s most emotional endings.

Diesel’s suggestion that Dom and Brian will share screen time again raises the possibility of a digital resurrection of Walker’s character, though he stopped short of confirming how it would happen.

Universal has not released further details, and it’s unclear whether the plan involves visual effects similar to Furious 7 or previously unseen footage. A full performance via AI or deepfake technology would be a bold — and controversial — move, though Cody Walker’s involvement suggests the family is at least in discussions.

Fast X, the tenth instalment, hit theatres in May 2023 and pulled in over $700 million worldwide, though it also carried a staggering $340 million production budget. Starring Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jason Momoa, Brie Larson, Alan Ritchson, and Rita Moreno, the film was billed as the first half of a two-part finale. The delay in Fast 11’s release — nearly four years after Fast X — has raised questions about whether the narrative will continue directly.

The Fast saga has evolved from modest L.A. street racing origins into a globe-trotting, physics-defying juggernaut of stunts, espionage, and family-fueled drama. But Diesel seems determined to close the loop by bringing the story home — literally and figuratively.

By setting the next instalment in Los Angeles, he nods to the franchise’s 2001 roots. A renewed focus on street racing also promises a return to gritty gearhead culture over global mayhem. And the potential resurrection of Brian — even briefly — would be a full-circle tribute to Walker, whose partnership with Diesel launched the series into the cultural stratosphere.

“Paul is still very much the heart of this franchise,” Diesel has said in the past. “We honour him with every film.”

As Fast 11 inches toward the finish line, fans are already speculating about who else might return. With Fast X ending on a cliffhanger and several characters’ fates in limbo, including Dwayne Johnson’s Hobbs, the 2027 release promises to be a sprawling farewell.

One thing’s certain: if Dom and Brian do reunite on screen, even digitally, it will mark one of the most emotional and talked-about moments in modern franchise cinema.