As a die-hard sci-fi enthusiast with decades of interstellar adventures under my belt, I can confidently say that Claudia Black’s career is a celestial marvel. Her performances as Sharon “Johnny” Miller in the inaugural Riddick movie, Pitch Black, and Aeryn Sun in the iconic Farscape series are unparalleled feats of acting prowess.
It’s not difficult to build a strong case for each of the three outstanding movies in Vin Diesel’s dark sci-fi Riddick series, and if you happen to prefer the first film, Pitch Black, among them, the stellar ensemble cast is likely a significant factor in your choice.
Starring Diesel, alongside Keith David, Cole Hauser, Radha Mitchell, among others, “Pitch Black” introduced us to Richard B. Riddick, played by Diesel, at the turn of the millennium. This character, an enigmatic anti-hero with supernatural sight, travels through space while carrying a notorious reputation and a substantial bounty on his head. Claudia Black, a beloved figure in science fiction, was also part of the “Pitch Black” cast, portraying Sharon, a nomadic settler who met a grisly, premature demise on the hostile planet where Riddick and the others had all crash-landed.
For more Farscape:
Claudia Black Discusses Playing Aeryn Sun, “The Soul of Farscape”
Claudia Black on her Farscape close call: ‘It almost didn’t happen’
Due to her well-known appearances in sci-fi television shows prior to its release, many viewers of the movie “Pitch Black” in early 2000 were already acquainted with Black. This is largely because she had been playing a significant role since 1999 as Aeryn Sun on “Farscape,” which aired on the Sci-Fi Channel, the predecessor to today’s SYFY channel.
However, as Black revealed to the BBC’s Farscape enthusiasts’ forum, her role in Pitch Black almost jeopardized her chance for the iconic part she played in Farscape, where she starred as the stoic Peacekeeper and potential love interest of astronaut John Crichton (Ben Browder). The two productions were filmed nearly simultaneously, with Pitch Black being shot first, and keeping up with the demanding production schedule proved to be almost an impossible task.
She shared with Farscape Cult that she found out she was chosen for the show “Farscape” while shooting “Pitch Black” on Australia’s Gold Coast. It was a significant moment in her career because the script for “Farscape” had been circulating among theatrical agencies as a pilot, produced by Jim Henson. The production timelines of “Pitch Black” and “Farscape” overlapped, causing some complications. The producers needed to coordinate schedules, and there was even a chance she might not get the role in “Farscape” – a detail she had almost forgotten about!
Black shared that Brian Henson told him later on, “We put a lot of thought into it, and it almost didn’t materialize.” Black confessed he wasn’t aware of the gravity of the situation. At one point, he had to call David Kemper, the executive producer of Farscape, whom he had his number, saying, “I heard that it might not happen, and I’m expecting the news that you’ve had to step down and pass the project onto someone else.” However, Kemper reassured him, saying, “No, no, no, no. You will get it. We’re making sure it happens, so just hang on tight and we’ll figure out a way to make it work.”
Fans of the show “Farscape” will recognize that it successfully navigated its plot, spanning an impressive four seasons while developing the characters Aeryn and Crichton. The narrative was further expanded in a special event series, “Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars,” which neatly resolved several unresolved storylines that were left hanging following the dramatic cliffhanger ending of the main series.
Thankfully, Farscape fans don’t have to look far these days to enjoy the full series.
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2024-08-09 18:46