WESLEY SNIPES WILL CO-STAR IN ‘THE EXPENDABLES 3′

*It’s official. Tax evasion ain’t no joke (seriously, ask Lauryn Hill).

But not even three years in the slammer could stop Wesley Snipes from finding a new gig.

The veteran actor, and celebrated action hero, will join Sly, Arnold and the rest of the “Expendables” cast for a third action packed thriller full of big guns, slurred phrases, and heart-pounding excursions through war-infested territory. Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer revealed the news during a conference call recently. Other new faces to the film’s cast, joining Snipes, will be Jackie Chan (Rush Hour), Nicholas Cage (Gone in 60 seconds) and Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil). Production is set to begin in August, with Australian director Patrick Hughes helming the project.

“The Expendables 3″ is slated to hit theatres August 15, 2014.

At his sentencing, prosecutors said Snipes, a resident of Windermere, Florida, had earned more than $38 million since 1999 but had filed no tax returns or paid any taxes through October 2006. Although he is best known for his roles in action films, Snipes has also had critical success in comedies like “White Men Can’t Jump” in 1992. He played the lead in director Spike Lee‘s interracial drama “Jungle Fever” in 1991 and also played the jazz saxophonist in Lee’s “Mo’ Better Blues” in 1990.