Revolution fuels 'XXX' with Diesel
Thesp to get $10 mil to topline Wilkes-penned drama
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The drama, described as an extreme James Bond pic with hip-hop flair, was scripted by Rich Wilkes. Filming starts in the fall for a July 2002 release.
It seemed a perfect fit for Diesel, but there were doubts he would do the film because he was looking to escalate the $2.5 million quote he got for the New Line drama "El Diablo" to the $10 million mark (Daily Variety, July 17). Diesel had multiple offers upward of $7.5 million, and the parties found a way to make the deal. Sources said that the solution didn't cause Revolution to raise a budget -- said to be just south of $50 million -- so presumably concessions were made to get Diesel to that level.
Todd Garner, who will exec produce along with Diesel and George Zakk, said that he was excited to reunite the "Fast and Furious" team for a film he called "a spy thriller with extreme attitude in music and style." Derek Dauchy will shepherd the project for Revolution.
The actor is one of several thesps with hits this summer that have driven their asking prices higher: Diesel's "Furious" co-star Paul Walker is one of the beneficiaries, as well as "Legally Blonde" topliner Reese Witherspoon, whose price is on the verge of escalating from about $1 million to $5 million in the wake of her summer hit.
Diesel is currently being courted by Universal for a "Pitch Black" sequel,which is being scripted by "X-Men" scribe David Hayter. The thesp starred in the first "Black" hit. There has also been rumors that Diesel could join Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Jonathan Mostow-directed "Terminator 3" for Intermedia. Diesel is repped by Endeavor and the Firm.
