Jet Li has officially joined the cast of xXx: The Return of Xander Cage, says a story today at The Hollywood Reporter. Although the actor and martial artist was rumored to be a part of the project back on New Year’s day, a subsequent xXx3 update did not mention Jet Li’s involvement, leaving some to fear that contract negotiations had fallen through. Today’s update appears to lock Jet Li’s involvement, however, with the trade reporting that the actor will play, “the leader of his own team [who] will square off against Diesel”.
In xXx: The Return of Xander Cage, Diesel co-stars opposite Samuel L. Jackson, who is returning as NSA Agent Augustus Gibbons, UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor, Indian star Deepika Padukone, “The Vampire Diaries” star Nina Dobrev and “Orange Is the New Black’s” Ruby Rose. F. Scott Frazier provided the most recent draft of the script, which will be directed by D.J. Caruso (Disturbia, Eagle Eye). Diesel and Joe Roth are producing with Jeff Kirschenbaum and Samantha Vincent, who is also Diesel’s sister.
Jet Li was most recently on the big screen as part of the ensemble cast of The Expendables 3. There, he again reprised his franchise role as martial arts specialist Yin Yang.
Filming on xXx: The Return of Xander Cage will begin later this month in Toronto and the Philippines. The film itself does not yet have a release date, but check back for updates as they become available.
