Ice Cube gets the lead role in ‘XXX2’

Nabbing his highest-profile role, Ice Cube is taking over the lead from Vin Diesel on “XXX2,” which will be directed by Lee Tamahori, director of the James Bond film “Die Another Day,” Revolution Studios confirmed Friday. The movie will provide Cube with a $7-million payday. Tamahori is getting $5 million.

Diesel, star of the original “XXX,” who now commands $20 million per picture, is currently filming the “Pitch Black” sci-fi sequel, “The Chronicles of Riddick,” for Universal Pictures. His fee on that film is $12.5 million. His next project will now be “Hannibal,” also for Revolution Studios. Rob Cohen, director of the original “XXX,” is preparing to oversee “Stealth” for Sony.

Diesel and Cohen teamed on the surprise hit “The Fast and the Furious” and followed that success with “XXX.” They had planned to do the sequel but now have gone their separate ways.