Andreas Teich/Action Press/ZUMA Press, Paul Fenton/ZUMA KPA, Jesse Grant / Getty Images • Luke Perry just scored a new TV gig, but not in the right ZIP code for 90210 fans. The erstwhile Dylan McKay is booked for ripped-(off)-from-the-headlines CBS' Criminal Minds as a cult leader. Things go bad when the feds botch a raid. See the Lukemeister brood it up on Oct. 8.
• XXX marks the spot again for Vin Diesel. After leaving the heroics to Ice Cube for XXX: State of the Union, Diesel is in talks to reteam with director Rob Cohen for the tentatively titled XXX: The Return of Xander Cage, per Variety. With his Babylon A.D. bombing at the box office, Diesel appears to be adding some surer things to his to-do list as news of his XXX sequel comes on the heels of his return for the fourth Fast and the Furious and two new Riddick flicks.
• Mr. Big is working the boards. Chris Noth has signed on for the lead role in Farragut North, based on the behind-the-scenes action of the 2004 primary campaign of Howard Dean. Noth will play a tough-talking, veteran political operative tasked with managing the insurgent candidate. Previews begin Oct. 22 at the Atlantic Theater Company and the curtain officially goes up Nov. 12.
• Taylor Hicks might not be selling lots of records these days, but he's still the one that producers want to pack seats. The season-five American Idol champ becomes the latest show alum heading to musical theater, headlining the new national tour of the Tony-winning Grease, which the Soul Patrol can catch beginning Dec. 2 at Rhode Island's Providence Performing Arts Center. He'll play—wait for it—Teen Angel.