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Paul Walker

The late Paul Walker's character Brian O'Connor is reportedly retuning to The Fast and the Furious franchise.

The star was killed at the age of just 40 in 2013, when the Porsche Carrera GT he was a passenger in spun out of control, crashing into two trees and exploding in a fireball. The vehicle was driven by his friend Roger Rodas, who also died in the accident.

Walker starred alongside Vin Diesel as then-undercover-cop Brian O'Connor in 2001's The Fast and the Furious, and reprised the role in several instalments before his tragic death. His final appearance was 2015's Furious 7.

However, according to entertainment reporter Daniel Richtman, Brian is set to return to screens in 2020's Fast & Furious 9 - although it remains unclear whether a new actor will portray the role or whether archive footage will be used.

"Just got a new casting grid for something and with it some big news that are sure to be controversial," he tweeted earlier this month. "Not sure how I feel about it myself but we'll see."

He later shared the tweet again, this time revealing the news: "It's been long enough. They are bringing back Paul Walker's character, Brian, to FF9."

Bosses at Universal, the studio behind the movie, are yet to address the claims.

Fast & Furious 9, starring Vin Diesel and John Cena, debuts in cinemas May 22.