Merrick here...

A while back we learned that Rob Cohen would return to the xXx franchise to direct THE RETURN OF XANDER CAGE - which would also bring Vin Diesel back into the fold (details HERE).

Shortly thereafter, we heard that Cohen was stepping away from the project in favor of an action/adventure called MEDIEVAL (details HERE). The question at the time was: would The Powers That Be delay xXx 3 long enough for Rob to finish up MEDIEVAL & come back to Vin's project? Or, would they move on find a new director?

That question has now been answered. Ericson Core - a very cool name, by the way - will direct THE RETURN OF XANDER CAGE. Core directed (and was DP on) Mark Wahlberg's INVINCIBLE a few years back, and was also Director of Photography on Brian Helgeland's PAYBACK and the first FAST AND THE FURIOUS film.

John Brancato and Michael Ferris ("Terminator Salvation") wrote the script for "Xander Cage." It involves Cage's return to the National Security Agency after an eight-year absence. Richard Wilkes, who wrote the original movie, did a recent polish.

..says THR HERE.

Brancato and Ferris also wrote T3, the forthcoming Bruce Willis SF adventure SURROGATES, and CATWOMAN.