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    Universal Shuts Down ‘Fast & Furious 7’ Production

    By SHOOT StaffUpdated:No Comments4356 Views
    In this April 29, 2011 file photo, actor Paul Walker poses during the photo call of the movie "Fast and Furious 5," in Rome. Universal Pictures has shut down production on “Fast & Furious 7” indefinitely following the death of its star, Walker. The studio announced Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013, that the film will shut down “for a period of time so we can assess all options available to move forward with the franchise.” (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)

    Universal shuts down 'Fast & Furious 7' production

    By Jake Coyle

    NEW YORK (AP) --

    Universal Pictures has shut down production on "Fast & Furious 7" indefinitely following the death of its star, Paul Walker.

    The studio announced Wednesday that the film will shut down "for a period of time so we can assess all options available to move forward with the franchise."

    The seventh installment of the street car racing series had begun shooting in September. While much of "Fast & Furious 7" has been filmed, it's far from complete.

    When Walker died in a fiery car crash Saturday north of Los Angeles, the film was on break for the Thanksgiving holiday. Shooting had been planned to resume Monday in Atlanta, but production was put on hold following Walker's death.

    Universal had been trying to fast-track "Fast & Furious 7" for a July 11 release, a date that's likely to be postponed. Universal hasn't yet announced any release date change.

    "Right now, all of us at Universal are dedicated to providing support to Paul's immediate family and our extended 'Fast & Furious' family of cast, crew and filmmakers," the studio said in a statement.

    Walker was killed by both the impact and subsequent fire when the high-powered Porsche driven by his friend crashed, according to autopsy results released Wednesday.

    At the wheel was Roger Rodas, Walker's friend, financial adviser and co-owner of a professional racing team. The two died when Rodas' 2005 Porsche Carrera GT smashed into a light pole and tree, then exploded in flames.

    Sheriff's investigators were still trying to determine what caused Rodas to careen out of control. They have said speed was a factor in the one-car crash about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

    Rodas was killed by the impact alone, the doctor who performed the autopsy for the Los Angeles County coroner's office concluded. Results of toxicology testing for drugs or alcohol will take another six to eight weeks.

    The limited-edition Porsche was previously owned by IndyCar driver Graham Rahal, who has said it was difficult to drive. It is not just fast – it can hit 100 mph in less than 7 seconds – but also unforgiving in its handling.

    Walker starred in all but one installment of the "Fast & Furious" franchise, which has been particularly lucrative for Universal. "Fast & Furious 6," released in May, was the highest grossing film in the series, earning more than $788 million worldwide.

    Universal announced Tuesday that it will donate a portion of the proceeds from the upcoming DVD, Blu-ray and digital release of "Fast & Furious 6" to Walker's charity Reach Out Worldwide.

    Walker, 40, founded Reach Out Worldwide in 2010 to give first-response aid to victims of natural disasters. Walker was hosting a fundraiser for the nonprofit on Saturday afternoon before the crash.

    Pritchard reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer also contributed to this report.

    Category:News
    Tags:Fast & Furios 7Paul WalkerUniversal



    A Closer Look At Proposed Measures Designed To Curb Google’s Search Monopoly

    Thursday, November 21, 2024

    U.S. regulators are proposing aggressive measures to restore competition to the online search market after a federal judge ruled Google maintained an illegal monopoly for the last decade.

    The sweeping set of recommendations filed late Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Justice could radically alter Google's business, including possibly spinning off the Chrome web browser and syndicating its search data to competitors. Even if the courts adopt the blueprint, Google isn't likely to make any significant changes until 2026 at the earliest, because of the legal system's slow-moving wheels.

    Here's what it all means:

    What is the Justice Department's goal?
    Federal prosecutors are cracking down on Google in a case originally filed during near the end of then-President Donald Trump's first term. Officials say the main goal of these proposals is to get Google to stop leveraging its dominant search engine to illegally squelch competition and stifle innovation.

    "The playing field is not level because of Google's conduct, and Google's quality reflects the ill-gotten gains of an advantage illegally acquired," the Justice Department asserted in its recommendations. "The remedy must close this gap and deprive Google of these advantages."

    Not surprisingly, Google sees things much differently. The Justice Department's "wildly overbroad proposal goes miles beyond the Court's decision," Kent Walker, Google's chief legal officer, asserted in a blog post. "It would break a range of Google products — even beyond search — that people love and find helpful in their everyday lives."

    It's still possible that the Justice Department could ease off on its attempts to break up Google, especially if President-elect Donald Trump... Read More

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