'XXX: The Return of Xander Cage' is an upcoming action-thriller film featuring the return of Vin Diesel in the lead role. Action legend Jet Li is confirmed to be attached to the new film as one of the latest antagonists together with Russian television star Andrey Ivchenko.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, action movie giant Jet Li is set to join Vin Diesel in the latest installment of the spy-action franchise first started in 2002. According to THR's sources, Li is poised to fight against Diesel's lead protagonist Xander Cage but details remain under wraps. It is unclear whether Li will emerge as the series' leading villain.
Revolution Studios' COO Scott Hemming announced the news of Li's involvement in the film, according to Comic Book Resources. He said in a statement, "We are extremely excited to have Jet Li join the cast of 'xXx 3: The Return of Xander Cage' as Raif, who is pitted against Vin Diesel's Xander Cage, and watch these two in action as they raise the bar with some of the most incredible stunts on film." It was reported that as Xander Cage assembles a team of fighters, Li will do the same and the two will meet head-on in the new reboot.
The Chinese actor, producer and martial artist landed his first Hollywood role in 1998's 'Lethal Weapon 4'. From there, he quickly rose to prominence as one of the action movie industry's most sought after stars. He appeared in several blockbuster hits including 'Romeo Must Die', 'Hero', 'Cradle 2 The Grave', 'The Forbidden Kingdom', 'The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor' and is also a mainstay in 'The Expendables' cinematic series.
Meanwhile, TNT's 'Falling Skies' actor Andrey Ivchenko is confirmed to be one of the film's new villains. According to We Got This Covered, Ivchenko joins Li as another antagonistic character poised to fight off Diesel's titular hero.
The Russian actor isn't the only talent from television to join the new line-up. Ruby Rose of 'Orange Is The New Black' and Nina Dobrev of 'Vampire Diaries' have also been cast in the third installment of the 'XXX' series.
'XXX: The Return of Xander Cage' is an upcoming action-thriller film directed by D.J. Caruso based on a screenplay by John D. Brancato and Michael Ferris. It stars Vin Diesel, Jet Li, Conor McGregor, Nina Dobrev, Ruby Rose, Deepika Padukone, Andrey Ivchenko and Samuel L. Jackson. It is slated to be released in theaters sometime in 2017.
