The Pacifier director Adam Shankman is reuniting with star Vin Diesel by signing on to direct The Machine.

The story centers on a human-like robot (Vin Diesel) which the U.S. government created in hopes it would become the perfect weapon, although the project was ultimately buried. 20 years later, a young boy discovers the machine and reactivates it. When the government comes to shut The Machine down once and for all, the robot protects the family that took him in.

Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant wrote the original screenplay, with Smallville creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar signing on to rewrite the script last July.

Vin Diesel is also producing through his One Race Films company, alongside Marc Platt and Adam Siegel. No production schedule was given.