Third "XXX" Film Goes To Paramount

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Third "XXX" Film Goes To Paramount

By our guest blogger, Matt Jussim

"XXX: The Return of Xander Cage," the third film in the spy action franchise started in 2002, has left Sony Pictures and has re-emerged over at Paramount, which is in negotiations to finance, produce and release the film.

According to Deadline NY:  John Brancato and Michael Ferris ("Terminator Salvation") penned the script which involves Xander Cage, the extreme sports athlete-turned-government operative from the first film, returning to the National Security Agency after an eight-year absence to work on a dangerous assignment only he can pull off.

As previously reported, Vin Diesel is reprising the role of Cage, Samuel L. Jackson will return as his handler Agent Augustus Gibbons, and the first film's director Rob Cohen will helm.

It wasn't immediately clear why Columbia dropped out, but the studio’s last film with Cohen, the 2005 action film "Stealth," was a costly failure for the studio that grossed just $32 million domestically. Cohen rebounded with "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," which grossed $401 million worldwide, but that was for Universal.

Diesel will star in the film right after he completes another installment of "The Fast and the Furious," which Universal Pictures will release June 10, 2011. Paramount expects to distribute the film six months or so later.

I kind of hate to say it, but I kind of liked the original “XXX.” I’m not saying it was a good movie, but it was enjoyable. Honestly, even the sequel which starred Ice Cube had some decent action moments, but he isn’t returning so it doesn’t really matter anyway. This has potential to be a good action film, but chances are it will be all flash and no substance.

Cohen plans to shoot the film with 3D cameras and a late 2011 or early 2012 release date is being targeted.