SMALLVILLE Creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar to Re-Write THE MACHINE for Vin Diesel

Last year, we reported that Vin Diesel was set to star in and produce the family action-comedy The Machine. The story centers on “a human-like machine (Diesel) created in secrecy by the Pentagon as the world’s first true ultimate weapon. Twenty years after the project was buried and decommissioned for reasons unknown, The Machine is discovered by a kid who befriends him. When the government learns it has been reactivated, the Machine must protect the family harboring him.”  Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant (The Pacifier) were hired to write the script for fun and profit, but Deadline reports that Smallville creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar are now in talks to re-write the screenplay.  MGM hopes to turn The Machine into a franchise.  We previously reported that Peter Segal (Get Smart) was circling the director’s chair, but Deadline makes no mention of him in their story.

Back in August 2011, we reported that the duo were angling to make their feature directing debut by adapting the young adult series Homelanders.  There’s currently no word on the status of that project.