The production of Riddick, the latest in the sci-fi action franchise starring Vin Diesel as a fearsome criminal antihero with exceptional night vision, was well underway before it was shut down reportedly due to a severe cash flow shortage.

TMZ spoke with Michel Trudel, the owner of the studio in Montreal where the film was shooting, who said that Diesel’s production company One Race Films has failed to make its payments for the use of his facilities on time. As a result Trudel states that he was forced to evict the Riddick cast and crew from the studio and even changed the locks until he is paid in full. He’s not alone there; according to unnamed sources close to the production, more than a few members of the crew have not received their paychecks in over two weeks.

Being an independently-produced sequel to a film series that has been moribund for nearly a decade, Riddick was bound to be riddled with financial difficulties from the very beginning, but both Diesel and writer/director David Twohy have been fighting with every ounce of their being to get this movie made. Based on the script and concept art that have leaked in recent months I’ve gotten pretty excited about Riddick being made, so I hope that the production’s money troubles get sorted out so things can get back on track and Vin Diesel can unleash his patented brand of righteous fury on some carnivorous aliens and murderous mercs on the big screen soon.

[Source: TMZ ]