Pop Goes The News — Big screen action star Vin Diesel is back in Toronto — this time to work on the third instalment in the xXx franchise.

As Pop Goes The News first reported in October, parts of xXx: The Return of Xander Cage are being filmed in the city until mid-May.

Toronto production is based at Pinewood studios.

Diesel is reprising the role of an extreme athlete-turned-spy from 2002’s xXx, which grossed $277 million at the box office worldwide. A 2005 sequel, xXx: State of the Union — with Ice Cube in the lead role — made only $71 million.

In the new movie, Cage will return to action for another assignment after being left for dead. Samuel L. Jackson returns as Augustus Gibbons.

MORE: Diesel, Damon among stars making movies in Toronto

Also in the film are Toni Collette (United States of Tara), Ruby Rose (Orange is the New Black), Jet Li (The Expendables) and hometown star Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries).

UFC star Conor McGregor is set to make his movie debut.

D.J. Caruso, who directed the 2004 thriller Taking Lives in Montreal, has signed on to direct the film, which does not yet have a release date.

Diesel, 48, made the 2005 family comedy The Pacifier in Toronto.

Jackson has made several movies in Toronto, including 2014’s RoboCop, 2012’s The Samaritan, 2008’s Jumper, and 2005’s The Man.

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This story has been updated since it was first posted.