As we reported back in July Paramount was looking to get the Italian Job 2 in production as soon as possible for a release sometime in '05. Now it looks like that will be happening very soon with filming starting next spring. Here are some new details from FilmForce.com:

Paramount Pictures is close to a deal with the stars of The Italian Job for a sequel, Variety magazine reports. Although the actors did not sign sequel agreements the first time around, Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, and Jason Statham are all in talks to join up for another big heist.

Wahlberg confirmed the likelihood of The Italian Job 2 to USA Today, telling the news magazine that he expected to be filming this March in either Paris or Brazil. The rising star cancelled his participation in the film noir The Black Dahlia so that he would have time for the caper sequel.

With production scheduled for the spring, the film's producers hope to get the picture into theaters by November 2005. F. Gary Gray, who directed the 2003 Italian Job remake, is first choice to helm this one; JoBlo.com says that David R. Ellis (Cellular) is also a candidate. Wayne and Donna Powers, who wrote the remake, are currently working on the new screenplay.

You can read the entire article here.

As we reported in July, likely locations include St. Tropez, Paris and the Swiss Alps.