While Vin Diesel is known as the protagonist of the Fast & Furious franchise, he had his breakthrough with the sci-fi film franchise The Chronicles of Riddick. Beginning with Pitch Black, the franchise spawned two more sequels, short films, and video games. Diesel even turned producer of the threequel after trading the rights for the franchise for a cameo in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
The makers have now confirmed that a fourth film is in development. Diesel would be reprising his role as the mercenary Riddick in the film titled Riddick: Furya. The film would reportedly follow the character as he goes back to his homeworld, which finds its citizens fighting against a new monster.
Vin Diesel Set To Return As Riddick In Riddick: Furya
Actor Vin Diesel became one of the highest-paid actors when he starred as Dominic Toretto in the Fast & Furious franchise. However, the actor would have never been able to secure the franchise without the sleeper hit Pitch Black, which would go on to be the first film in the Chronicles of Riddick franchise.
Diesel had his breakthrough with Pitch Black, who up until then had only been seen in a cameo in Saving Private Ryan and in a supporting role in Boiler Room. The actor’s performance as Riddick established him as a budding action star and led him to other such roles in films like XXX and Fast and the Furious.
After three films in the franchise, the last of which was released in 2013, Vin Diesel would reportedly be reprising his role in a fourth film. According to The Wrap, Diesel, and director David Twohy will be returning for the four-quel titled Riddick: Furya, and would see him return to his home planet of Furya to see the problems faced by the locals.
The film was officially launched for worldwide sales at the European Film Market in February 2023. Diesel was set to be producing the film under the One Race Films banner. David Twohy mentioned to Deadline,
“Our legion fans have demanded it for years, and now we’re finally ready to honor their call to action with Riddick: Furya…This new big-screen event will see a return to Riddick’s homeworld, where we finally get to explore Riddick’s genesis.”
The film would be the first media from the Chronicles of Riddick franchise that would be released in ten years as the last film was released in 2013.
Vin Diesel Secured The Rights To Riddick In Exchange For A Cameo In Fast & Furious Film
While Vin Diesel hit it big with the Fast & Furious franchise, his sequel to Pitch Black did not do that well at the box office. Produced with a budget of $120 million, The Chronicles of Riddick only grossed $115 million at the box office, making it a financial disappointment. Universal, which was behind both of the franchises, did not move forward with another Riddick film.
However, the studio reportedly wanted Vin Diesel in a cameo for the spinoff film The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. Diesel agreed to the cameo but instead of taking a paycheck, he reportedly asked for the rights for Riddick, a role that he had claimed to be ‘the story of his life’ (via THR). After Universal agreed to the trade-off, Diesel returned to the role of both Toretto and Riddick.
Fans have been ecstatic at the return of Vin Diesel in The Chronicles of Riddick franchise and have expressed their excitement at the four-quel.
Glad that they are continuing with the Riddick series.
— David (@Real_Dave77) May 6, 2024
Finally, true space kino has returned. It's been far too long. pic.twitter.com/9ul5dCETPR
— Toastshake (@Toastshake1) May 6, 2024
— Deathsarus (@deathsarus) May 7, 2024
"Begin" in August…?? I'VE BEEN WAITING 10 FUCKING YEARS SINCE THE LAST ONE, VIN.
— ＪＭＸ (@ThexImiko) May 7, 2024
this is a great saga of sci-fi. glad to hear this news.
— Varoonian (@Alfie_ww) May 6, 2024
While Vin Diesel gears up for the final installment of the Fast & Furious franchise, he still seems to have another franchise at the ready to keep him as a relevant star.
The Chronicles of Riddick franchise is available to stream on Peacock.
