Vin Diesel – who plays Dominic Toretto in the long-running franchise – confessed it was difficult working on the latest film without his friend and co-star Paul Walker. However, the late actor gave him the courage to carry on because he had once promised that an eighth installment was going to happen.

Diesel posted a touching image of the two via Instagram, stating that he prays Walker is proud of the final product. The image, showing them at a previous awards ceremony, said of the late star: “The arduous road to production, the challenging task of filming this latest chapter.

The record breaking trailer debut and the shocked world at what the dark road implied… you Pablo have given me strength… purpose and resolve.

I promised you we would make something you would be proud of and I pray that we have… miss you. Family above everything! #happytorettotuesday.”

And Vin – whose real name is Mark Sinclair – admitted he’s still trying to cope with his friend’s death three years after his passing. But the actor is thankful that many people have reached out – including Paul’s own daughter Meadow – which has gradually helped him get through these difficult times.

He previously stated: “It was a lot of tissues. It was a hard morning for me yesterday [on the anniversary of Paul’s death] because I was here. But the irony is the whole cast reached out and his daughter, Meadow, reached out and all that stuff helps you get through it.

We’ve felt the loss. The last three years have been some of the hardest of my life because of losing my brother like that.”