The Fast and Furious franchise seems to be following in the footsteps of the comic book world with characters that never really die even though it appears as if they did. Michelle Rodriguez who seemingly died in Fast and Furious and then appeared in the post credits scene in Fast Five, is officially signed on to reprise her role in the tentatively titled Fast and Furious 6. Rodriguez will also return to reprise her role in Machete Kills, the sequel to Robert Rodriguez’s Machete.

Rodriguez, who made a brief return in Fast Five, reunites with Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson. Gina Carano and possibly Luke Evans and Rihanna will join them. Justin Lin returns to the director’s chair once more to take on the sixth installment of the Fast and Furious franchise, which is said to take place in Europe with Dwayne Johnson still in hot pursuit of Paul Walker and Vin Diesel.

In a strange bit of casting news, it’s being reported that none other than Mel Gibson has entered into “serious discussions” for a role in the upcoming sequel to 2010’s Machete, which will be titled Machete Kills.

Nothing is know about who Gibson might play, only that it would a supporting role.

Filmmaker Robert Rodriguez appeared Yesterday at the South by Southwest Interactive Festival to give updates on several of his forthcoming projects, including the formation of his own studio for producing CGI-animated feature films called Quickdraw Animation. He also announced that he will be filming sequels to two of his previous hit movies this year.

Machete Kills, which we first announced here, will go into production in April and the long-delayed Sin City 2 is expected to film later this summer. In addition to those films Rodriguez also said that his animated Heavy Metal film finally has a finished script and is moving into the storyboard phase of pre-production, along with a family feature the director is hesitant to reveal the title because it would give away the concept.

The Geeks Of Doom Round Up hits into episode numero five, and Andy takes a look at the trailer for Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, written and directed by Lorene Scafaria, and starring Steve Carell. For our music selection this week, Greg remembers Whitney Houston, and in tribute plays a cover version of “Where Do Broken Hearts Go” by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes.

Later, we look at George Lucas‘ view on whether Han Shot First or Greedo Shot First, and mention the recent announcement of the upcoming Machete sequel. And as always, we close out with a preview of what to expect on The Drill Down and Social Blend podcasts.

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The other day we reported that Robert Rodriguez was working on a sequel to his 2010 action splatterfest Machete called Machete Kills that would reunite the director with his longtime collaborator and Machete leading man Danny Trejo, and that he was planning to begin filming pretty soon.

Today we are bring you your first look at a promotional poster for Machete Kills that will premiere at the European Film Market this week.

You can check it out here below.