Paul Walker's death has led to 'catastrophic' 'Fast & Furious 7' script rewrites, says Kurt Russell

Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Fast & Furious's filmmakers have reportedly decided to write Paul Walker's character out of the series' seventh installment -- instead of killing him off -- after the actor died in a car crash last November.

But according to co-star Kurt Russell, who spoke to reporters at the Sundance Film Festival, Walker's death posed "significant" problems for the franchise.

"They're having to rewrite, they're having to do whatever they're having to do to deal with the situation," he said. "It's catastrophic. It's the worst thing that could happen to a movie.

"But it's not as bad as what happened to Paul. So everything is in perspective. He was a terrific guy and life is full of curveballs," the 62-year-old actor added.

Russell -- who was at Sundance promoting his documentary, The Battered Bastards of Baseball -- will star in the seventh film as a "father figure" to Vin Diesel's character.

[BBC News, E! News]