Vin Diesel produces, stars in 'The Machine'

"Fast Five" proved Vin Diesel can still bring in a lot of money at the box office, and the actor is already planning this next project: an action comedy titled "The Machine" for MGM. Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant wrote the flick. The duo also penned "Night at the Museum."

Heat Vision says Diesel will star as a machine built by the Pentagon to act as the ultimate weapon. The project is soon abandoned though, and many years later, a kid finds the machine and starts to befriend it. When the government finds out about this, they intend to shut it down. Yawn...

To tell you the truth, Diesel is better off driving hot cars and stuff. Let's just hope this isn't going to be another "The Pacifier." That was torture enough, don't you think?

First 'Fast Five' ('Fast and Furious 5') set photos

Justin Lin has started filming "Fast Five," the fifth installment in the popular "Fast & Furious" series, and actor Tyrese Gibson has posted some set photos from the shoot on his Twitter page. See above/below.

The film, also starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson and Charisma Carpenter, is set for release June 10, 2011. Oh, and "Fast Five" follows Diesel and Walker as fugitives pursued by cops.

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Vin Diesel has new 'Fast Five' update

Vin Diesel facebooked again recently, giving his millions of fans a quick update on where things stand with the upcoming "Fast & Furious" sequel "Fast Five," which Justin Lin is directing. Chris Morgan worked on the script for the film, which is in pre-production right now.

"Had a meeting with Justin Lin today regarding the Fast saga... some daring but fascinating thoughts in terms of action set pieces... and relationships, old and new," he wrote. "The team is on their way to Brazil this evening, to scout, and to see what selection of cars there are."

More details on the new 'Riddick' sequel

As you may have read recently, Universal is developing another "Riddick" flick, and David Twohy will be back to helm it. Vin Diesel will return as well, and rumor has it the film will follow the style of "Pitch Black."

The Hollywood Reporter now has some details about the third film in the series. Word is Diesel's character is "left for dead on a barren alien planet, dealing with 'trisons' (three-legged bisons) and 'mud demons.'"

Riddick is obviously also on the run, and to add some extra spice, here's what else we can expect in the film: "He must then contend with two squads of bounty hunters, one of which ride rockets called jetcycles."

So far, so good. I enjoyed the first film, but I can't say I loved "The Chronicles of Riddick." Now at least Twohy has a shot at redeeming himself and take us back to the great "Pitch Black" atmosphere.

Big film news update: Madonna directs again; Scorsese to team with De Niro & more...

Lots of film news going on right now, and here is the latest from around the Web:

- Madonna is stepping behind the camera again, as she gets ready to direct "W.E.," a period piece centering on King Edward VIII's affair with Wallis Simpson. Madonna is penning the script with Alex Keshishian. Madonna also helmed "Filth and Wisdom." (Variety)

- How about this? Martin Scorsese plans a mobster flick with Robert De Niro. "There's no doubt about that. We're working on something like that, but it's from the vantage point of older men looking back, none of this running around stuff," the master said at the Berlin Film Festival. Woohoo! (Reuters)

- Mike Newell, who has "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" coming up, will write and helm a film about the death of ex-KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko, who was poisoned by polonium-210 several years ago. The project is based on the book "The Terminal Spy" by Alan Cowell. (Variety)

- "Season of the Witch" won't kick off in March, as originally planned. Lionsgate announced it would pull the Nicolas Cage flick for now. A new date hasn't been set yet. In the film, a group of knights escort a girl suspected of being a nasty witch who apparently digs the Black Plague. (Variety)

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Universal confirms fifth 'Fast & Furious'

Vin Diesel already hinted at it via Facebook back in January: Universal is definitely moving forward with a fifth "Fast & Furious" flick, and the way it looks, we will see it on the big screen next year already.

Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, director Justin Lin and producer Neal H. Moritz will all return for the fifth installment in the series, which is tentatively titled "Fast Five." Chris Morgan ("Wanted") is writing the script.

The story? Well, according to Variety, "Fast Five" follows Diesel and Walker as fugitives pursued by ruthless cops. I think I've heard that one before, in one way or another. Shooting will begin later this year.

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Two new 'Fast & Furious' films on the way?

Social media tools allow Hollywood's stars to directly communicate with fans without being bothered too much in return, and Vin Diesel used Facebook this weekend to announce two more "Fast & Furious" movies may be heading our way soon.

Diesel updated his page by saying writer Chris Morgan ("Wanted") delivered two new chapters for the franchise. "If 2009's 'Fast and Furious' was chapter one, what writer Chris Morgan just delivered is Chapter 2 and chapter 3," he wrote.

"I have never been submitted a two story saga from a studio before... it is very exciting, and shows a commitment level that is hard not to respond to," he added. He also said he would be excited about the "sexy" locations these films would take them.

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Ericson Core to direct 'Return of Xander Cage'

The new "xXx" flick has found its director! Ericson Core is set to direct that totally unnecessary action sequel "XXX: The Return of Xander Cage," which Columbia is developing with Vin Diesel set to return as the lead character. Neal H. Moritz is producing.

Core's recent directing gigs include 2006's sports drama "Invincible" with Mark Wahlberg. Rob Cohen, who helmed the first "xXx," was attached to return as well, but he recently dropped out to direct "Medieval" instead.

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Vin Diesel to play lead in Paramount's 'Wheelman'

Vin Diesel won't be slowing down anytime soon. The star of "Fast & Furious" is set to star in Paramount Pictures' upcoming big-screen adaptation of Ubisoft's "The Wheelman," a videogame that already features the actor as its main character. Variety says John Singleton, who also helmed "2 Fast 2 Furious" and "Four Brothers," will direct a screenplay by Oliver Butcher and Stephen Cornwell. Rich Wilkes wrote the original script.

Diesel is playing a talented driver who kisses retirement good-bye to protect a woman from his past. His return to the "Fast & Furious" franchise proved to be quite lucrative, because the fourth installment in the series has already collected $150.9 million domestically. I've never played "Wheelman" and don't know if the game's plot is worth it, but Diesel is certainly the right guy to play this role. Okay, Jason Statham would probably perfect too.

Movie Review: “Fast & Furious”

Seen on: April 3, 2009

The players: Director: Justin Lin, Writer: Chris Morgan, Cast: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, John Ortiz, Gal Gadot

Facts of interest: Lin also directed "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift."

The plot: Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) reteam to infiltrate the operations of a ruthless drug lord.

Our quick thoughts: Vin Diesel and Paul Walker re-team on the big screen in Justin Lin’s “Fast & Furious,” and while this fourth installment in the popular series is not exactly as much fun as the first film, it certainly does deliver a handful of vibrant, over-the-top sequences that will undoubtedly entertain die-hard fans and admirers of pimped rides.

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