Disappointing Update on Vin Diesel’s Xander Cage 4 from Franchise Star

Excitement around Vin Diesel’s upcoming Xander Cage 4 has faced a setback, following comments made by franchise actor Ruby Rose. The original xXx, which was released in 2002, quickly became a blockbuster hit under Rob Cohen’s direction, amassing an impressive $277 million in global ticket sales. Although the success warranted a sequel, Diesel opted out of returning for xXx: State of the Union, leading to Ice Cube stepping into the lead role. The sequel struggled at the box office, earning only $71 million, which highlighted Diesel’s significant draw. His eventual return in the 2017 film, Xander Cage, rejuvenated the franchise, generating $346 million and reigniting hopes for a fourth installment.

Fast forward to the present, it’s been over seven years since audiences last saw xXx: Return of Xander Cage. Recent comments from Ruby Rose, shared during an interview with Screen Rant in anticipation of her upcoming film, Dirty Angels, set to release on December 13, 2024, painted a grim picture regarding the future of Xander Cage 4. Rose stated she has not received any updates regarding the sequel:

I haven’t heard anything. I haven’t heard anything since 1974 (laughs). No, I don’t know. I would hope so because I would love to work with that cast and crew again. [They’re] incredible people. I think Vin’s busy doing lots of Fast and The Furious 312 and I don’t know, but that would be, that was another really fun mission movie, I guess might’ve been my only other real mission movie, but very different tonally than Dirty Angels. Dirty Angels is a much more serious film.

Implications for Xander Cage 4

Diesel’s Interest Remains

Despite the uncertainty, Diesel has expressed a desire to continue as Xander Cage. In 2023, he shared a nostalgic photo with his xXx: Return of Xander Cage co-star Deepika Padukone on social media, accompanied by a heartfelt caption: “Spirit lead me… @deepikapadukone was one of my favorite people to work with. She brought me to India and I loved it… looking forward to my return.” This post hinted at potential developments for Xander Cage 4, although nothing concrete has emerged since.

As Ruby Rose mentioned, Vin Diesel is currently focusing on the ongoing success of the Fast & Furious franchise, which continues to dominate the box office. Furthermore, Diesel is set to revisit his role in the Riddick series with the new installment, Riddick: Furya. Given Diesel’s busy schedule, it seems that plans for another Xander Cage adventure may be shelved for the moment. Nevertheless, Rose has shown enthusiasm about rejoining the team if the opportunity arises, even while promoting her more serious project, Dirty Angels.

Insights on Rose’s Disheartening Update

Is the xXx Franchise Coming to a Close?

Ruby Rose with a sniper scope in XXX: Return of Xander Cage — Image via Paramount

While Diesel’s reinvigoration of the Xander Cage character captured audience attention in 2017, the prolonged absence of news regarding a sequel has raised questions about the future viability of the franchise. The lack of updates on Xander Cage 4 may reflect dwindling enthusiasm among cast and crew, particularly given Diesel’s sporadic social media hints.

Although Vin Diesel remains a busy actor, particularly with the enduring Fast & Furious series, it’s conceivable that a shift in that franchise’s popularity could open doors for Xander Cage’s potential return. However, Diesel’s lack of commitment to the xXx series over the years suggests that any future developments for Xander Cage 4 might remain uncertain.

Source & Images