XXX: State of the Union type Movie

The contnually giving source for all news about Vin Diesel projects — Vin Diesel — has let slip who is set to direct for his return to the XXX franchise, even if the film has another Diesel project to compete with before setting its production schedule.

Speaking with i09, Diesel said that Disturbia director D.J. Caruso will helm the third XXX film.

“I’m excited as hell about XXX,” he said. “D.J. Caruso is directing it, which is exciting.”

The one thing standing in Diesel’s way of filling Xander Cage’s shoes again, however, is his time as Dominic Toretto in the Fast and Furious franchise, now that the eighth film in the series has a director.

“The big question now is which will race to production first now that F. Gary Gray is on [Furious 8],” Diesel added. “Will XXX race to production first or will Fast race to production first?”

Though Diesel previously said the film would begin shooting in December, it appears those plans aren’t quite as firm if his new comments are any indication, as Furious 8 already has a solid release date of April 14, 2017.

XXX began in 2002, with Diesel in the title role of extreme sports junkie-turned-NSA agent and his The Fast and the Furious director Rob Cohen behind the camera. A sequel was released in 2005 with Ice Cube starring and Diesel uninvolved.

Diesel can next be seen in The Last Witch Hunter, which hits theaters on Oct. 23. For more from Diesel on returning to XXX, head over to i09.