Are audiences clamoring for a fourth installment of "The Fast and the Furious"? Regardless, they are getting one whether they like it or not. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal Pictures and producer Neal Moritz are working on a new, untitled "Furious" that would bring former stars Paul Walker and Vin Diesel back into the fold. Walker starred in the first two "Furious" adventures, while Diesel dropped out after the initial flick only to appear in a popular cameo at the end of the last sequel, "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift." Director Justin Lin and screenwriter Chris Morgan, the creative team behind "Drift," are also returning. Interestingly, Diesel is set to receive a producing credit on the new film, a nice concession for someone who no doubt thought he was too big of a star to return to the franchise. Guess a couple box-office bombs will change your thinking.

Diesel will try to turn his popularity around in February's "Babylon A.D." He's also been threatening to make a feature about "Hannibal the Conqueror" for years, but he hasn't been able to get it off the ground. "Furious 4" will be his next production.

Walker has also had recent troubles on the big screen. He scored a family hit with "Eight Below" and had a small role in the disappointing "Flags of Our Fathers," but both "Running Scared" and "Into the Blue" were major disappointments -- not to mention "The Death and Life of Bobby Z," which went directly to DVD without a theatrical release (yikes). His next film to hit theaters should be "The Heaven Project." Sony Pictures is expected to release the thriller sometime next year (or so they say). In any event, like Diesel, jumping onboard a fourth "Furious" probably looks like a good career move at the moment.

Moritz, Lin and Morgan don't have any story details worked out yet (nice!), but they expect to begin shooting in Los Angeles, Mexico and the Dominican Republic sometime this spring in anticipation of a 2009 release.

Next column: Mark Wahlberg and Joaquin Phoenix proclaim, "We Own the Night"; and more.

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