Fans of the Riddick franchise can rejoice. The futuristic anti-hero is getting another adventure.
Star Vin Diesel announced on Instagram that The Chronicles of Riddick will be getting a fourth theatrical film, as well as a spin-off television series.
“Last night our company had a party to launch our TV division,” Diesel, 48, wrote. “MERC CITY is a show that will follow the Mercs and Bounty Hunters of the Riddick Universe. Next Month, DT begins writing the next Chapter in the Chronicles of Riddick… FURIA.”
“DT” is certainly referring to director David Twohy, who was responsible for writing and directing all three of the Riddick films - Pitch Black (2000), The Chronicles of Riddick (2004) and Riddick (2013). Twohy was also involved in writing the two animated Riddick shorts, as well as other projects set in the Riddick universe.
While the three Riddick films have only grossed a combined $267 million at the worldwide box office, the franchise has developed a cult following, even getting a video game and two novelizations.
Even so, it is likely that the upcoming fourth Riddick film will have a smaller budget than previous entries. 2013’s Riddick only made $98 million worldwide on a $38 million budget, notes Empire.
It also remains to be seen if fan favorites - including Keith David (The Thing, Community), Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica), Karl Urban (Star Trek, Dredd), and Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy, SPECTRE) - will reprise their supporting roles.