Paul Walker was like an older brother to me: Scott Eastwood

Los Angeles: Scott Eastwood, who has joined the ensemble cast of "Fast and Furious 8", says he and actor Paul Walker shared a close friendship and were like brothers.

The 31-year-old actor, who will play Eric Reisner in the film, feels privileged to join the cast of the movie with which Walker was so closely associated.

"Paul was like an older brother to me, so to even consider the role was definitely an emotionally charged decision.

"At the end of the day, I felt he would have wanted any of his boys to be a part of something that he was so proud of. That's what made me feel good about the decision and once I got on set, I knew it was the right one," Eastwood said in a statement.

The duo struck a chord when they first met on the sets of the 2005 film "Flags of our Fathers", directed by Scott's father, Clint Eastwood.

Apart from Scott, the eight part of "Fast and Furious" has added names like Charlize Theron and Helen Mirren to the franchise.

"Fast and Furious 8" is set to release in India on April 14.