'XXX 3', or 'XXX: The Return of Xander Cage', is the follow-up to 2005's 'XXX: State of the Union'. It is scheduled to be released on January 2017 and will feature the return of Vin Diesel as the main protagonist Xander Cage who was believed to be dead from the first film. Ice Cube, who replaced Diesel in the lead role for the second installment, may make an appearance as well.
According to /Film, the third installment in the action series first released in 2002 will premiere in theaters on January 20, 2017. D.J. Caruso will be helming the film based on a screenplay penned by John D. Brancato and Michael Ferris. Vin Diesel, who will reprise his role as the National Security Agency spy Xander Cage, is producing the film together with Jeff Kirschenbaum, Joe Roth, Samantha Vinncent and Neal H. Moritz.
Joining Diesel in the new film will be 'Vampire Diaries' actress Nina Dobrev, martial artists Donnie Yen and Tony Jaa, Golden Globe winner Toni Colette, Australian newcomer Ruby Rose, Bollywood star Deepika Padukone and Academy Award nominee Samuel L. Jackson.
Diesel's character was reportedly seen killed off in a DVD extra in the first and original film in the series to make way for Ice Cube's Darius Stone for the sequel, 'XXX: State of the Union'. According to Irish Examiner, it is unlikely that the new film will reference his death or near-death situation from the preceding film.
The new plot will follow Xander Cage as he hunts for a mysterious weapon known as Pandora's Box. He gathers up a fresh group of like-minded recruits and finds himself in the middle of a deadly international conspiracy. Xander was first introduced as an extreme sports enthusiast with a notorious reputation employed by the NSA as an undercover agent in order to infiltrate the terrorist organization Anarchy 99.
Rapper-turned-actor Ice Cube replaced Diesel in the 2005 sequel as the main protagonist Lieutenant Darius Stone, a disgraced ex-Navy Seal who was recruited to stop a takeover of the White House by rebels. The second film performed poorly at the box office and received negative reviews from critics.
According to another article by Movie Hole, Ice Cube may join Diesel in 'XXX 3'. It was speculated that his character is a major player in the unfolding of events for the third film. A source revealed that Ice Cube will be receiving "great lines" as well as getting involved in a number of "terrific action sequences".
'XXX 3', or 'XXX: The Return of Xander Cage', is an upcoming action-thriller film directed by D.J. Caruso. It is scheduled to be released on January 20, 2017.
