How can the studio handle this situation without seeming cold and heartless but at the same time not walking away from all the money already invested?
Tough one here. I’d probably edit out all scenes with Vin Diesel in them.
I’d say it depends on how far along they were. It supposedly started shooting in September, so I’m surprised they aren’t done with primary shooting completely, meaning they have enough to leave him in the film - Game of Death/The Crow it with a body double for the remainder and have him die early in the next one when feelings have settled.
Having him die in a car would be insensitive, but Walker’s character didn’t engage in fisticuffs much after the first film, so re-shooting a fight scene with him losing likely isn’t an option. Nor do the F&F films feature a lot of gunplay. Aside from driving, the most dangerous behavior they engage in is drinking beer while eating fatty foods. It’s a conundrum.
Have them all react to his being dead, but never mention his cause of death, have someone say “who cares how he died, why not just think about how he lived”.