Vin Diesel Heads To "Babylon"

According to Cinematical and VinXperience, Vin Diesel will star in the big budget futuristic sci-fi thriller, "Babylon A.D." Inspired by the Maurice Dantec novel Babylon Babies, the film is based on the script from Matthieu Kassovitz ("Gothika") who will also direct.

According to the book's publisher, the story is set in the "flesh and chip" breeding grounds of the first cyborg communities. Its hero is a "hard-boiled leatherneck" veteran of Sarajevo named Thoorop who is hired by a mysterious source to escort a young woman named from Russia to Canada. He thinks it'll be a simple job, but when Thoorop is offered an even higher fee by another organization, he realizes this is no ordinary girl. A schizophrenic and the possible carrier of a new artificial virus, the girl is carrying a mutant embryo created by an American cult that dreams of producing a genetically modified messiah, a dream that spells out the end of human life as we know it.

Diesel will reportedly play Thoorop. Rumored to be budgeted at $60 million, the film was originally to star Kassovitz's long-time collaborater Vincent Cassel as the lead. He's likely been replaced by Diesel for boxoffice draw. Filming begins in June.

I've always been somewhat mixed on Diesel as an actor. Based on what I've read about him, he seems to be quite a good businessman. He's also quite swell to look at. Just not sure about the acting. The only role I've ever really liked him in was as Riddick - in both "Pitch Black" and "The Chronicles of Riddick." Though I didn't see it, that one where the duck bites his nose might have been funny. On the other hand... These sci-fi action-type things might be more his cup of tea. I know they're mine. --Shannon Nolley

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