Fast X: Part 2 reportedly has some budget concerns, and it could impact a family reunion that Vin Diesel previously announced. 2023’s Fast X was meant to be the first of a two-part finale for the Fast franchise. However, it’s been over two years, and little progress has been made on the grand finale.

Despite Diesel making some bold proclamations, Fast & Furious 11 hasn’t started filming and still has no official release date. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Universal is concerned about the film’s budget. The initial script would have needed a $250 million budget, but the studio isn’t willing to make it for more than $200 million.

Universal is also looking for ways to shrink the budget by reducing the film’s cast and limiting overseas shooting locations. While it’s possible to shoot locally, reducing the stacked roster could be a difficult task. Unfortunately, it could mean that Paul Walker’s Brian O’Conner may not return for the finale, despite Diesel’s prior announcement.

Brian O’Conner’s Return Could Be A Victim Of Budget Cuts

At the 2025 FuelFest in Los Angeles (via H๏τCars), Diesel appeared on stage and shared three conditions he gave Universal for the next Fast & Furious film: The franchise needs to return to LA, the finale needs to bring back street-racing, and Walker needs to return as O’Conner.

Diesel also teased an April 2027 release date, so it’s likely everything he said wasn’t officially agreed upon. Still, Brian’s return is a significant announcement for the franchise. Walker starred in the original 2001 film and appeared in almost every installment — except The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift — until his death in 2013.

Walker died while Furious 7 was still in production, but the filmmakers found a remarkable way to finish his story. They used a combination of outtakes and older footage of Walker combined with stand-in performances from his brothers with his face digitally placed over theirs. It’s seamless in the final product, and an incredible tribute to the late actor.

Furious 7 had a reported budget of $190 million, but the price of Walker’s digital role hasn’t been reported. It was likely quite expensive, as it was an exhaustive process that required a blend of visual and practical effects. Fortunately, Furious 7 made over $1 billion, meaning Universal’s investment into finishing Walker’s role was rewarded.

However, the franchise’s popularity isn’t the same as it was in 2015. While the films are grossing over $700 million at the worldwide box office, that isn’t necessarily enough to make a profit, given the inflated production budgets. With a $200 million maximum budget, Universal may not be willing to commit to the price tag needed to bring Brian back.

Fast X already had a mᴀssive cast with highly-paid stars, like Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, and Jason Momoa, and it teased the returns of Dwayne Johnson and Gal Gadot. If Universal’s looking to make cuts for Fast 11, Brian is an easy choice since he doesn’t need to be in the finale anyway.

O’Conner’s Removal From Fast 11 Could Save The Film From An Awkward Situation

While Fast and Furious isn’t known for its emotional storytelling, audiences around the world shed tears during the final scene of Furious 7. The film delivered a beautiful tribute to Walker, featuring a montage of his best Fast & Furious moments, before he and Diesel’s Dominic Toretto drove off into the sunset and eventually to different paths.

Brian is still alive within the Fast story, but the movies only mention him briefly. In The Fate of the Furious, he and Mia are retired, and the team doesn’t involve them to allow them to focus on their family. Mia returns in F9, but says Brian is taking care of the children. He does arrive to the family cookout at the end, but only his car is shown.

The franchise already gave Brian a satisfying ending. It’s nice to think that he’s living his best life as a father who is keeping his family safe while Dom and the others save the world. There’s no need to bring him back for the finale, unless Diesel is determined to have a complete family reunion.

It could be worthwhile to see Brian again, but this decision would come with risk. Walker’s Furious 7 role wasn’t uncanny since he had already filmed most of his scenes, and many audiences were understanding of the difficult situation the film faced after his death. However, audiences could find it tasteless to bring him back over a decade after his death.

Additionally, the CGI may look more noticeable if it’s done for the entire film, and could distract from any scene he’s in. For example, Alien: Romulus brought back Ian Holm’s Ash, and all of his scenes were awkward to watch. It’s an unnecessary risk for Fast 11 to take, especially when Brian’s story already ended perfectly in Furious 7.

It’s unclear how the budget cuts could affect the rest of Fast X: Part 2, but Diesel likely will need to make some compromises with Universal to make the finale happen. It may be disappointing that Diesel won’t get his emotional reunion; it may also be for the best.