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- Riddick Was a Passion Project for Vin Diesel
- Vin Diesel Said He Would’ve Been ‘Homeless’ if Riddick Failed
As a die-hard fan of Vin Diesel and his unwavering dedication to his projects, I wholeheartedly admire the man’s grit and determination. His story of leveraging his house for the production of Riddick is nothing short of inspiring. It’s not every day you see a Hollywood star putting it all on the line for a passion project.
Vin Diesel has acted as Dominic Toretto a remarkable nine times, including his appearance in “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift“. However, it’s not this character from his filmography that he cherishes most. Instead, it’s Richard B. Riddick, the captivating role he played in the 2000 movie “Pitch Black“, which was released a year before the first “Fast and the Furious” even roared onto the silver screen.
Following the impact I made on Stephen Spielberg through the 1997 film “Strays,” where I took on multiple roles as an actor, writer, director, and producer, I landed my first significant role in a high-budget movie, “Saving Private Ryan.” Later, I lent my voice to the title character in “The Iron Giant” and shared the screen with Giovanni Ribisi in “Boiler Room.” However, it was in “Pitch Black,” where I still played a supporting role, that I had the opportunity to delve deeply into a truly distinctive, multi-dimensional character and make it my own.
The movie “The Chronicles of Riddick,” released in 2004 and produced on a relatively small budget of $23 million, became a hit, earning $53.2 million at the box office. This success convinced Universal Pictures executives that the character was promising enough to headline a large-scale franchise. As a result, “The Chronicles of Riddick” came into being. Regrettably, it only managed to gross $115.8 million against a budget of approximately $105-$120 million. Hence, the character’s ability to lead a big-budget franchise seemed questionable. Nevertheless, Vin Diesel remained optimistic and passionate about the character. He thought that with careful planning and restrained spending, Riddick could still establish his own brand, increasing the pressure on its future success.
Riddick Was a Passion Project for Vin Diesel
Since the release of Chronicles, both Diesel and director David Twohy have remained hopeful about a sequel. However, they understood that due to its disappointing critical and commercial performance, any potential follow-up would face challenges and likely be produced on a shoestring budget. Interestingly, two years after Chronicles premiered, Diesel negotiated a cameo appearance in the mentioned Tokyo Drift in return for acquiring the rights to the Riddick character and the entire Riddick franchise.
By making this decision, Diesel and Twohy could create a standalone Riddick film that aligns perfectly with their vision, unhindered by studio limitations. Essentially, it means a movie rated PG-13 which doesn’t suit the character but expands its reach on a broader scale. For this new project, Vin Diesel’s One Race Films will be the main production house, unlike The Chronicles of Riddick which was jointly produced with Universal.
2013’s “Riddick” presents a more intimate perspective, focusing more on its title character rather than being a grand, ensemble production. Stranded on a distant planet, the vision-impaired antihero encounters recently arrived mercenaries, offering a personal, character-driven narrative.
Vin Diesel Said He Would’ve Been ‘Homeless’ if Riddick Failed
According to Diesel, when the movie “Riddick” was released in 2013, bringing his and Twohy’s vision to life came at a high personal price. In his own words, he had to risk his home: “If we didn’t finish the film, I would be homeless.” Interestingly, he found some motivation for investing so much into it from a dedicated Riddick fan.
“They expressed interest in a R-rated movie for which they’d pay $10 apiece, suggesting you’d have enough funds to produce it. That statement made me think, what a kind soul, and if my newfound success allows, I could certainly fulfill their request.
The investment was well worth it, as the budget for Riddick wasn’t significantly more than Pitch Black, given that about 15 years had passed and inflation would have increased costs. Despite this, it managed to earn $98.3 million, even though it didn’t surpass the earnings of The Chronicles of Riddick. However, considering its lower production cost, the third installment didn’t need to achieve the same level of success.
Not only did Diesel fulfill that fan’s desire, but “Riddick” lived up to its R-rating just as it should have. It’s a significant improvement over the second film and comes pretty close to the fun factor of “Pitch Black.” Moreover, it was successful enough to keep the franchise going, with a fourth movie named “Riddick: Furya” currently in development.
Just as with the last movie, Diesel has been sharing sneak peeks of Riddick’s next journey via his Instagram, hinting at its imminent release. Fans are eagerly awaiting this, hoping it comes to theaters swiftly. Moreover, a successful run could pave the way for a fifth and concluding part, which is what Diesel and Twohy envision. They aim to conclude the overall storyline on their own terms, in a manner that fans would undoubtedly applaud.
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2024-10-13 23:31