Vin Diesel

Vin Diesel

Vin Diesel will produce and star in new franchise, 'Soldiers of the Sun'.

The 'Fast & Furious 6' actor has teamed up with screenwriter Arash Amel - who penned the upcoming Nicole Kidman-starring 'Grace of Monaco' - for the new sci-fi action series, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Amel has written a speculative script for the first film, which centres on a group of soldiers who hunt for a fabled city of gold while on a tour of duty in Mexico, liberating the country from an alien race called Orcs.

The post-apocalyptic movie is being eyed as a potential franchise with Diesel leading an ensemble cast, similar to his role in the 'Fast & Furious' series.

As well as starring in the movie, the actor-and-producer will have a producing role with partner Samantha Vincent through their One Race Films company. 'Transformers' producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura will also produce.

Diesel is keeping busy with numerous film roles already in the can and in the pipeline. He will reprise his role as Dominic Toretto in 'Fast & Furious 7', which will be filmed later this year for release in 2014, and he is also expected to have a voice role in Marvel's superhero blockbuster 'Guardians of the Galaxy'.

The actor will next be seen in 'Riddick', the third instalment in his popular sci-fi franchise.