Tradecraft: Cohen Passes On XXX Threequel

Variety reports that Rob Cohen, director of the original extreme sports spy movie xXx (remember that one?), has passed on helming the third entry in the franchise, xXx: The Return of Xander Cage in favor of directing a medieval epic. The Return of Xander Cage would have reteamed him with Vin Diesel, who opted out of the second film. "It was a tough decision about XXX," Cohen told the trade. "I talked to Vin over the weekend and said I hoped they would wait, but that if they find another director who's right for the sequel, I certainly wouldn't be angry. But I could not let something like this go."