Peter Segal (Get Smart) is reportedly in talks to direct Vin Diesel (The Fast and the Furious) in the action film, The Machine for MGM.  At the moment, Segal is currently attached to Warner Bros. pictures Grudge Match and the adaptation of the manga, Bleach, so this more than likely won’t be his next feature.  Segal is producing Bleach and may end up directing the picture, while he is attached to direct the Grudge Match, about a boxing rematch between aging fighters. Diesel, meanwhile, is currently in post-production on The Untitled Chronicles of Riddick Sequel, which we can expect to see sometime early next year.  Hit the jump for more information on his involvement in The Machine, as well as the picture’s plot synopsis.

Ericson Core (“Invincible”) has signed to direct “xXx: The Return of Xander Cage”. This will make it the 3rd film in the xXx franchise, which should have never been a franchise.  Vin Diesel is also already signed on to star.  This means that Diesel will be returning to another franchise which helped him become the big action star that he was for those 5 or 10 minutes a couple of years ago after starring in this years surprise hit (sigh) “Fast & Furious”.  To find out some more details and what Xander Cage will be up to in this adventure, hit the jump.

With Vin Diesel all of a sudden a hot commodity with the unexpected success of the recent “Fast & Furious” movie, many are wondering what Vin will attach himself to next.

According to the always accurate IMDB, Vin is in pre-production on “The Wheelman” for director John Singleton, “Rockfish” – as a voice actor, and “xXx: The Return of Xander Cage” for director Rob Cohen.

Of course which project he picks depends on many things, but having a good script is usually the starting point. So when I attended this weekend’s press junket for “Terminator Salvation”, I decided to ask screenwriters Michael Ferris and John D. Brancato how the script was coming along for “xXx”, as they’re writing it.

While John was busy talking to someone else, I did get a moment with Michael and he said, “We’re actually delivering a draft next week. So far the studio seems very enthusiastic about it. Rob Cohen is really excited. I think Vin Diesel is tentatively committed pending script approval. With any luck at all, we’ll get a green light in the immediate future and have something by next year.”

When I tried to ask where they might be sending him or what the film is about, that’s where our brief conversation ended.

So with Vin’s schedule wide open, could “xXx” be fast tracked and made his next project? I’m sure we’ll know soon enough. Look for updates as I get them.