Rejoice, cinema enthusiasts! Paul Walker has confirmed that he's on board for a fifth, Brazil-set installment of the Fast & Furious series, and he credits a delightful campaign of audience harassment for leading to his decision.
According to E!, Walker was drawn back to the franchise fold not by a gaudy paycheck but through a steady, ego-deflating attempt by fans to put him in his place:
"Vin didn't do the second one, and fans would always ask me, 'Why didn't Vin do the second one?' I didn't really have an answer for them," he said. "And then I didn't do the third one. And guys would come up to me on the street and be like, 'Hey, why weren't you in the third one?' And when they ask the question, it's kinda like they got that look...saying, 'Don't tell us you're too good for us now.'"When they started talking about making the fourth one, I was like, man, I don't really have a choice now, because if I don't do it I know I'm gonna be pissing people off, because this is the opportunity to come back and make the first true sequel."
It's settled, then: Walker's CAA reps wield little influence compared to the persuasive engine-revving of "Fernando," a 250-pound Furious fan who, when pulled up alongside Walker at a stoplight, growls, "Yo, homes, it's time to swallow your pride, accept the lack of a gross points deal, and ink for some more Fast & Furious action" (before peeling away in a blaze of glory as a confused Walker mutters "Line?" to no one in particular).