Mike Fleming

Smallville creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar are in final negotiations to write The Machine, the Vin Diesel-starring action comedy that is also the first new production for the restructured MGM. Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant wrote the original script, about a human-like machine created in secrecy by the Pentagon to be the world’s first ultimate weapon. After the machine was decommissioned and buried it is discovered, reactivated and befriended by a kid 20 years later. When the government learns that it’s back in operation, the machine’s mission becomes to protect the family harboring him. Diesel, who also is producing via his One Race Films, was set to star when the project was unveiled in May 2011. The hope is to create a franchise.

Gough and Millar co-wrote the screenplays for I Am Number Four, The Mummy: Tomb Of The Emperor, Herbie Fully Loaded and Shanghai Noon on the film side. They were behind the hit Superman-as-a-teen series Smallville on TV and most recently created/executive produced the ABC series Charlie’s Angels, which was cancelled last season.