The ninth installment of the Fast & Furious series is just months away from its release. As fans get ready for “F9,” Vin Diesel honored the memory of his friend and castmate, Paul Walker who played “Brian O’Conner” in the franchise. Everyone remembers Walker’s smile and the shock and sadness that filled the world with his sudden passing on November 30, 2013. While the world mourned his death and honored the actor, we will never know the pain that those closest to him continue to feel. Especially when you spent years on set with the lovable soul and are reminded of his absence with every new release. On Friday Diesel shared a photo of his face morphed into Walker’s and reflected on his feelings with the film’s release.

©Vin Diesel

“The next chapter may be the best,” he wrote. “But the weight, the reflections of true brotherhood will burden the soul in ways one can’t explain. Here’s to the ones who know loss.... and yet find a smile to meet the blessed day. All love, Always.”

Walker passed away when he was 40 years old as a passenger in a single-car crash alongside his friend and driver Roger Rodas. Rodas also passed away in the accident. Walker had not completed filming “Furious 7” (2015), at the time of his death, and it was completed after rewrites and stand-ins, including his brothers Cody and Caleb, who filled in for their sibling.

Directed and co-written by Justin Lin with Daniel Casey “F9” is the sequel to “The Fate of the Furious” (2017). The film will star Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez,Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, John Cena, Jordana Brewster,Nathalie Emmanuel,Sung Kang, Helen Mirren, and Charlize Theron. F9 was originally scheduled for worldwide release in April 2019 but was delayed several times. It is now officially scheduled for theatrical release on May 28, 2021.