by: S. Scott Stanikmas – Senior Staff Writer

Vin Diesel has a tough fight in front of him when he reprises his role of Xander Cage for the next xXx flick.

Sources are saying that Jet Li has finally inked a deal to star opposite Diesel in the upcoming xXx 3: The Return of Xander Cage. Li’s involvement was hinted at a few weeks ago but it wasn’t official until the actor signed on the dotted line just recently.

Much like Diesel’s other popular franchise, the Fast and Furious series, xXx 3 looks to surround the actor with a crew of tough guys and jokesters. The plan is to do the same for Li, and while plot details are scarce, word is that the martial artist will lead his own crew to fight the bad fight.

Whether Li is the big bad of the film or he is just the next-to-last fight before the real villain has yet to be revealed..

No release date has been set, but the film is set to start filming in February with D.J. Caruso behind the camera.