"Fast & Furious 7" release date bumped up a week

Fan anticipation is revving up for "Fast & Furious 7," which will now be coming to theaters a week earlier than expected.

The latest sequel in the franchise -- starring the late Paul Walker in his final film role -- will be coming to theaters on April 3, 2015, instead of the previously-announced April 10 release date.

A promotional image with the new opening date was released Wednesday on the film's official Facebook page:

"Fast & Furious 7" was initially scheduled to open in theaters this month, when production first began on the project last year.

Those plans had to be altered, however, when series star Walker died in a December car crash after attending a charity event. He was 40.

Roughly half of Walker's scenes had yet to be completed at the time of his death. His brothers, Cody and Caleb, have worked as stand-ins and photo doubles for their late sibling to help complete the film.