Richard B. Riddick. Mercenary, criminal, hero and soon to be proud owner of his own trilogy, the character created by David Twohy in 2000′s Pitch Black, is headed back to the big screen.
It was announced a few weeks ago that ‘Riddick’, the third film in the franchise, would bring back Vin Diesel in the title role and return to the smaller scope of the original film. 2004′s sequel, The Chronicles of Riddick abandoned the dark survival horror underpinnings of Pitch Black and expanded the world in a way that felt like Star Wars meets Conan. It had its moments, but was far from successful.
This past week, at the European Film Market expo, the details of the third entry’s plot were revealed. The Hollywood Reporter provided this synopsis:
“Though billed as a back-to-basics approach to the character popularized by Diesel, the script features the character — the most wanted man in the galaxy — left for dead on a barren alien planet, dealing with “trisons” (three-legged bisons) and “mud demons.” He must then contend with two squads of bounty hunters, one of which ride rockets called jetcycles.”
Odd creatures, a solitary location, and threats both human and alien; it certainly sounds like an attempt to take the elements that made the first successful and replicate them. Not sure about how a three-legged bison actually gets around, but I’m game to find out. I just hope they keep closer to the emotional core of the character here than they did in Chronicles. The redemptive arc and moment of sacrifice at the end of Pitch Black charted a new course for Riddick and left him a different man. Let’s see a greater emphasis on that inner turmoil, the war between the scoundrel and the hero and less messy mumbo jumbo like the ‘Underverse.’
So far so good. Monsters? check. Bounty Hunters? check. Jetcycles? Double check.
What do you guys think? Is Riddick past his sell-by date, or does he have one more adventure in him?
Do we know when this is set? Is is a prequel, or is it after Chronicles?
I dunno. I love Vin. The movie was spectacular. I duly belive that he has 2 more adventures in him. by the way, I saw the ending for the 2004 one. Is Riddik now the ruler of the Necromongers, and does he crush all that the Lord Marshall would have crushed if he had survived? Thanks.
By the way, Jason. You're the webmaster, right? Easiest signup for my profile I've ever done.
Kool site. 
blackneos,
That last shot of the 2004 film was awesome…sitting on the throne, looking at the necromonger army. Really felt like Conan in Space. I'm thinking that the story probably won't continue from there, that was such a vast and epic way to end. This synopsis sounds like it may exist, like Dark Fury and Butcher Bay, in between the events of PB and COR. Not sure though.
As long as Riddick doesnt shave his legs with oil like he shaved his head in the first film “Pitch Black”…lol. Though Chronicles was the weakest of the full-length films, I sure hope they come strong and tell more of his past. What keeps us wanting to follow this character are the new planets and the dank environments he explores, so this sneek peak into the story is met with a nod. Thanks
COUNT ME IN! Me and the family are huge fans…we loved both PB and COR. Bring it on! Hope Tooms has escaped from the cageand is back in the new one.
Other stuff I've read on this would suggest it takes place after the last movie, but I'm really hoping the writers will cleave away the space opera garbage that characterized the last movie, and maybe tell you more about the Riddick universe, while at the same time telling you more about his past (at least in a dramatized fashion, as those details have already been revealed [to an extent?]).
I have no idea Why you people hated the last one…it was awesome and I enjoyed the new feel to the franchise.I thought the COR really gave more surrounding and detail of the elements around Riddick and unlike PitchBlack introduced a bigger and more exciting area to the series.
Mike, I agree 100% Can’t stand the people with negative views on COR. It was awesome, huge, I loved the back story about the Furyans. Loved the scale, the sets, the characters, the story…only Riddick could have taken down the greatest threat to humanity!!
Not impressed so far. We don’t need another Pitch Black. How can you just leave everybody hanging after the end of the last film? It was awesome and what better way to start a 3rd movie than with a criminal turned ruler of an army. The story must go on!!!
@NathanBartlebaugh, Aw… That sucks…. I guess the good guys lost then…..