Fast & Furious 7 Delayed Until April 2015 Following Paul Walker’s Death – ARTICLE

First Published: December 23, 2013 12:14 PM EST Credit: Getty Images

Vin Diesel and Paul Walker and Jordana Brewster attend a Universal Pictures presentation to promote their upcoming film ‘Fast & Furious 6’ at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, on April 16, 2013 in Las VegasCaption Vin Diesel and Paul Walker and Jordana Brewster attend a Universal Pictures presentation to promote their upcoming film ‘Fast & Furious 6’ at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, on April 16, 2013 in Las Vegas

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Universal Pictures has delayed the release of “Fast & Furious 7” for almost a year following the death of star Paul Walker.

The studio announced Monday that the “Fast & Furious” sequel will be released in April 2015, instead of July. Shooting on the film was about halfway finished when the 40-year-old Walker died in a car crash outside of Los Angeles.

Walker will still appear in the film, though Universal has not said exactly how it will handle his unfinished performance.

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Co-star Vin Diesel first posted the news on Facebook, telling his fans that, “He’d want you to know first.”

The franchise has been one of Universal’s most lucrative, grossing almost $2.4 billion worldwide since 2001. The last film, “Fast & Furious 6,” made $789 million.

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