We reported back in August that a third Chronicles of Riddick film was in development, which initially appeared to have stalled in the casting phase.
However, after weeks of silence, it seems the film is back in development with the casting of Katee Sackhoff (aka Starbuck from BSG) for a primary role.
The original film, Pitch Black – a monster thriller – with some elements of a startle flick – was unexpectedly popular with the sci-fi crowd, and spawned a sort of ad-hoc franchise, spanning multiple media and genre, as the franchise weaved from audience to audience, trying to pick up stragglers.
The story has lost a bit of momentum in the down-time, but the new film plans to take Riddick back to his roots: a bad-ass monster-fighter stranded on an alien planet. Essentially, a true, thematic sequel to the first film.
Sackhoff will be playing the female lead, Dahl, a member of a team of mercenaries tracking the protagonist, played again by franchise veteran Vin Diesel, across space.
For her sake, I hope this role is a bit different from the part she played in Battlestar Galactica (and 24), or she runs the risk of type-casting herself.
We’ve also got word that Spanish actor, Jordi Molla is in talks to join the cast in the role of the villain.
The official synopsis of the film is thus:
Betrayed by his own kind and left for dead on a desolate planet, Riddick (Diesel) fights for survival against alien predators and becomes more powerful and dangerous than ever before. Soon bounty hunters from throughout the galaxy descend on Riddick only to find themselves pawns in his greater scheme for revenge. With his enemies right where he wants them, Riddick unleashes a vicious attack of vengeance before returning to his home planet of Furya to save it from destruction.
The as yet untitled third Riddick film is slated to begin production soon, with an official release date pending.
