Normally, an actor would like to be paid handsomely for a small cameo role in a film, but not Vin Diesel. Instead of receiving a check, the actor received something that was closer to his heart and much more valuable: the rights to his character Riddick. Diesel talked about the trade during the Riddick film premiere in L.A.
In 2006, when Universal was looking to give the Fast & Furious franchise a recharged, they wanted to bring back the face of the franchise to ensure that fans would return for more – four more if you’re keeping count. So when the studio asked Diesel to appear in a cameo role in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift; the actor agreed, but instead of being given a check, the actor acquired the rights to Riddick.
First seen in a supporting role as Private Adrian Caparzo in Steven Spielberg’s 1998 Saving Private Ryan, Diesel’s breakout role would soon come in the form of anti-hero, Richard B. Riddick, in 2000’s low-budget sci-fi survival flick, Pitch Black. Films like XXX, and Boiler Room came rolling in. But after the 2004 sequel The Chronicles of Riddick bombed at the box office, it seemed like the Riddick franchise was doomed to live on through its direct-to-dvd animated sequels.
Despite the flop, the sequel wasn’t a massive failure. So when Diesel acquired the rights, he along with director David Twohy, gave the film a semi-reboot by starting a new “back to basics” plot instead of continuing Riddick’s story after the events of the last film.
According to THR, Riddick was one of the hottest titles at the 2010 at Berlin’s European Film Market. But funding eventually dried up, and according to Twohy, they were “basically kicked out” of Montreal where they were filming, until Diesel received the necessary financial backing to keep the project afloat. In the end, the film ended up costing $35-$40 million, a modest price for a sci-fi action thriller, which ironically will be distributed by Universal.
Riddick opens in theaters September 6.
[Source: THR]
Im not even mad about this, and I’m no Diesel fan.
Do what you love big man.
Comment by goldknight1 — September 4, 2013 @ 5:03 pm
So much for accurate reporting. “Riddick” does take place after “Chronicles”. Karl Urban reprises his role from Chronicles, and Riddick is betrayed by the Necros, which leads to the events in the new film. Sloppy, but I’m starting to expect that from this website.
Comment by Bob James — September 4, 2013 @ 9:46 pm
Instead of continuing in the extravagant vein of the second film, they
returned to basics, with a lone Riddick marooned on a hostile planet
Did you even read the source article. What a tool. You should consider going back to school and learn how to read properly.
Comment by Conor Charles Gass — September 5, 2013 @ 4:58 pm
Who’s the “tool” asshat? The article clearly stated that the decision was made to go to a “back to basics” plot “instead” of continuing the story “after” the events of the last film. This was an incorrect statement. The new film does continue on “after” the events of the last film, it is not a reboot in any sense of the term. So I don’t need to reread the article or go back to school to learn how to read properly. You’re a brave guy with one hand on the keyboard, and the other holding your dick.
Comment by Bob James — September 5, 2013 @ 11:13 pm
YAWN… zzzzzzzz oh did you have something important to say?
Comment by Conor Charles Gass — September 6, 2013 @ 2:09 am
Just keep that box of tissues handy (no pun intended), because that stuff can mess up your keyboard. And next time, how about you actually having something important to say rather than trying to provoke arguments and attempting (albeit in your one handed way) to insult someone?
Comment by Bob James — September 6, 2013 @ 12:45 pm
Sorry I have a hard time acknowledging people who can’t read or write. So you’re going to need a more eloquent and well thought out argument before you keep referring back to masturbation, which you clearly are a fan of. Your stale one-note jokes just don’t cut it. Why not go to another comment thread and flap your gums (or in this case smash the keyboard) about Dr. Who?
Comment by Conor Charles Gass — September 6, 2013 @ 1:43 pm
I read and write just fine, but perhaps not as well as you masturbate and talk shit. And for the record, masturbation is just fine, but not when it keeps you from making any decent use of your time and energy. That’s my point, really, every time you’ve posted anything on this topic, that’s all you’ve been doing, beating off, picking fights, and talking shit. I wonder at how you can acknowledge anybody or anything else with your head so far up your own ass. Learning how to be a decent person who can engage in and carry on a conversation, instead of acting like such a prissy panty waste would be a good start. And with that, I’m done wasting time responding to your baseless bile spewing. Now you know where you can go, and what you can do to yourself when you arrive at that destination. I’m done with you, short bus rider.
Comment by Bob James — September 6, 2013 @ 4:58 pm
Yeah…. Conor.. You’re a fucking idiot and I’m not quite sure anyone agrees or sees your retarded point of view….. I t’s almost like a 14 year old…There ya go, I’m now picturing you as an arrogant little shit of a teenager. Yawn? Seriously? You are by far the sorriest excuse for a person. You’re kind of sad, more but more humiliating. Considering you have the debate skills of an 8th grader, and the retorts of an 8 year old.
Comment by derpa — September 7, 2013 @ 12:39 pm
Thumbs up, Soldier.
Comment by Conor Charles Gass — September 9, 2013 @ 11:15 am
Smart man.
Comment by Dude Abides — January 16, 2014 @ 8:50 am