Paul Walker's Need For Speed

Two years ago, Paul Walker crashed into the Hollywood elite with the blockbuster success of "The Fast And The Furious." He's back in theaters now reprising the role of Brian O'Conner in the high-octane sequel, "2 Fast 2 Furious."

O'Conner is a isgraced cop whose choices resulted in his dismissal from the force. The Feds have given him a chance to turn back the clock and clear his record, but O'Conner's loyalties are tested by both the bad guys and the good, forcing him to determine whose side he is really on.

Directed by John Singleton, the film also stars R&B singer/actor Tyrese who is replacing Vin Diesel as Walker's sidekick Roman Pierce.

In an interview on The Early Show, Walker says when he found out Vin Diesel was not going to be part of the sequel, he was "pretty disappointed.

"It was one of those things, took me a while to separate the business from the friend aspect," he says. "That's the way it goes. It ended up turning out really good. Tyrese and I, I think, we mixed pretty well on screen. Vin Diesel, I consider him a really good friend."

About working again with Singleton, Walker says, "He is just a real good guy. The thing i liked the most about working with that guy is, he's been at the game for awhile. Just really excited and still really enjoys what he does. He's not the least bit jaded. When you put in long hours and long days, it's nice to come to work with a director that's excited about previous day's work. I really like working with him."

Walker says the film did not feel like a sequel to him. "Tyrese and John [Singleton] had worked together before. So initially I felt like I was the guest on the set. Like I was the new guy. They had already established the shorthand from working together before." So he says it took him a couple of weeks to get into it.

Next for Walker is Richard Dalton's film, "Timeline."

About Paul Walker:

• Born in Glendale, Calif., on Sept. 12, 1973, and raised in the San Fernando Valley.
• He began modeling at age 2 in Pampers ads and worked as a child actor while in high school in the 1980s.
• In 1986, guest starred in a two-part episode of "Highway to Heaven" (NBC) as an institutionalized mentally challenged boy. Also was a guest on such sitcoms as "Charles in Charge" and "Growing Pains" (ABC)
• From 1986 to 1987, he played regular role of Jeremy, the son of Diana Canova's divorced record-company employee, on the syndicated sitcom "Throb." In 1987, made his feature debut in "Programmed to Kill"
• In 1993, had recurring role of Brandon Collins on the CBS soap "The Young and the Restless" Appeared in episodes of the short-lived sitcom "The Boys Are Back" (CBS); played one of the sons.
• In 1998, had his first leading role in features as surfer dude Phil Deedle in the Disney-produced comedy "Meet the Deedles;"; also had featured role as the high school basketball star in "Pleasantville."
• In 1999, co-starred as the team's star quarterback who is injured in the hit "Varsity Blues;" played first slightly villainous role as the friend to and rival of Freddie Prinze Jr's BMOC Zach Siler in "She's All That;" and was cast as Claire Danes' boyfriend in the drama "Brokedown Palace."
• In 2000, he co-starred with Joshua Jackson in "The Skulls."
• And in 2001 had leading role in "The Fast and the Furious."
• Walker just completed production on director Richard Donner's adaptation of the Michael Crichton novel "Timeline" for Paramount Pictures, which is scheduled for release either in November or January. This adventure-thriller also stars Frances O'Connor and Ethan Embry as archaeology students who are searching for their missing professor.