Made famous in the saga Fast and FuriousVin Diesel almost lost everything because of a science fiction film released in the early 2000s. The feature film was a failure when it was released in theaters.
When we think of Vin Diesel, it of course immediately brings to mind the saga of Fast and Furious, which made him a superstar. However, this is not the one that made him known in the first place. After a small role in We have to save the soldier Ryan, Vin Diesel made his name in another franchise which was much less successful, and which even almost cost him dearly. It’s in the science fiction movie Pitch Black in 2000 that the actor exploded. He played Riddick, a killer capable of seeing in the dark in a futuristic world. A modest but real success. Crowned with his following successes, the actor turned The Chronicles of Riddick in 2004. Again, without being a blockbuster, the film remained as an action and science fiction classic. It can be seen on Prime Video.
Vin Diesel almost ended up on the street because of this film
Nearly ten years later, Vin Diesel launched a third episode, simply titled Riddick. And this brought him to the brink of bankruptcy. In 2013, he wanted to resurrect the franchise from its beginnings without the support of a major studio. An independence which had financial consequences. The film’s budget of 38 million euros was almost three times lower than that of the previous opus. The team had to shoot in forty-seven days and Vin Diesel even had to mortgage his house to pay for the project. “If we hadn’t finished the film, I would have ended up homeless”he explained at the time to Hollywood Reporter.
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Riddicka planned sequel
The film saw the light of day and the proceeds allowed the actor to keep his house. But the risk was real. Even though it grossed nearly $100 million, the amount remains quite paltry in box office terms. The same year, Snow Queen Or Iron Man 3 exceeded $1.2 billion in revenue. Above all, Riddick is far from being considered the best film in the saga. But Vin Diesel seems to retain a special affection for the character. Very quickly, he announced his ambition to produce a fourth episode. Riddick: Furya is planned for 2025.
Article written in collaboration with 6Médias.
