It’s been more than a year since we’ve heard anything aboutXXX: The Return of Xander Cage.Vin Dieselconfirmed hisreturn to the franchiseway back in July of 2014. But since then, he’s been busy making sureFurious 7was one of this year’s biggest hits. And then he also has to make sure people are aware of, and go see,The Last Witch Hunterthis fall. The actor finally gave an update on the impendingxXxsequel. His latestInstagrampost has some surprising and very welcome news.
“While I was filming XXX, guys on set called me Air Diesel… The time to return has come. Filming starts December in the Philippines.”
Yup, that’s right! Even thoughSony Pictureshas not confirm it’s even happening,Vin Dieselseems to think his long awaited return as Xander Cage is shooting before the end of this year. So, it sounds like production starts on the action sequel beforeFast & Furious 8, which already has a set release date of April 2017. Though, at this point, absolutely nothing else about the movie has been confirmed.Vin Dieselseems like a reliable source, but sometimes, even the actors get it wrong. Perhaps he’s being over enthusiastic. It’s happened before.
Vin Dieselis slowly but surly becoming theking of franchises. Not only does he have anotherxXxandFast & Furiouslined-up, he has already announced the sequelThe Last Witch Hunter 2for 2018. And he’s said in the past that Universal Pictures is very serious about makingRiddick 4. There is no question that the actor is one of the biggest action stars on the planet. But we don’t have to worry about where he’ll go next. He also has another franchise in the planning stages with the tv-to-movie adaptation ofKojak, which has been in the works, perhaps, longer thanXXX 3.
XXX: The Return of Xander Cagehas been rumored to be in development for years.Vin Dieselhas only ever appeared in 2002’sxXx, withIce Cubetaking over the franchise inXXX: State of the Union. There was a short film released around the time ofXXX: State of the Unionthat actually showed the death of Xander Cage, but apparently the team behind the movie has found a way to work around that. Back in 2014,Vin Dieselannounced that thenew scriptwas nearly completed. John D. Brancato and Michael Ferris are behind the screenplay.
There are no plot details at this time, and it’s unclear if anyone else from the first two movies will return. There were murmurs thatIce Cube’s Lt. Darius Stone might team-up withVin Diesel’s Xander Cage. And original co-starAsia Argentowould be a welcome addition, but no one has mentioned either possible scenario in years. More about the film probably won’t be known until Sony actually admits that the project has a green light. There are many fans anxiously awaiting the return of Xander Cage inxXx. But Hollywood is still in the midst of its 90s nostalgia phase. WillXXX: The Return of Xander Cagekick off a hunger for all things 2000s? Perhaps.
