Starring in the new fantasy film “The Last Witch Hunter” played a big role in helping Vin Diesel heal after the death of his friend and “Fast & Furious” costar, Paul Walker, Diesel says.

“Death was a huge theme last year,” Diesel told the AP. “There was something therapeutic about playing this role after going through [Walker’s death].”

In the new film, Diesel’s character deals with loss as well. He’s been cursed with immortality by the Witch Queen, which means he isn’t able to reunite with his loved ones in the afterlife.

The actor also told the AP, “2014 was a tough year for me in some ways — a lot of ways. Playing a character that was masking his sorrow — his loss — was very appropriate for the time, because that’s what I was doing in real life with the post-‘Furious 7.”’

The “Fast & Furious” franchise is set to continue with three more films. The as-yet-untitled eighth installment will hit theaters in 2017 and apparently Diesel already knows how everything ends. But don’t count on him telling us just yet.

Diesel is no doubt proud to be part of the franchise, especially since he knows how much Walker would have appreciated it.

“[Walker] took a lot of pride in this franchise,” Diesel told the AP, “and he’d be smiling down at the idea of us actually doing what we talked about, which is going to the 10th chapter.”

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