Merrick here...
Vin Diesel and David Twohy recently wrapped their third RIDDICK adventure, which is due in theaters...
...Well, that's the question. Seems Vin Diesel was eager to put the picture on screens this year, but next January 2013 is the earliest Universal can release it. Per Vin Diesel's Facebook page.
This doesn't indicate anything negative...whatsoever...it simply means a ton of resources goes into prepping the release of a film, and Uni needs time to pull everything together. It's important they "get it right' - ESPECIALLY if they're smelling a franchise...which they evidently are.
Also on his Facebook page, Vin revealed....
I think they are liking what they are seeing... haha, cause they asked when both Underverse and Furya would be ready to make and release... haha... now that's a ways in the future but it is exciting.
There have been previous indications that further RIDDICK movies could be a possibility should the forthcoming installment prove successful, but this (I believe) is our first strong indicator that the RIDDICK universe is on the studio's radar enough for them want more after seeing what Diesel and Twohy are up to with adventure #3.
Regarding the titles offered by Diesel: FURYA refers to the Riddick character's home world. In Riddickverse lore, the Furyans were more or less snuffed out by the Necromongers...the ornate, spiritually obsessed Empire with whom Riddick clashed in CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK. The UNDERVERSE he refers to is essentially a "promised land" to the Necromongers - described by THIS Wiki entry as a constellation only a select few Necromongers can journey to. All of which suggests that the sprawling mythology advanced in CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK...apparently skirted / sidestepped to a degree in the third installment...will come back into play should further films come around.
It should be noted that the UNDERVERSE movie concept been in the wind for a long time...since the release of the second film in the series, if memory serves. Sounds like: with the recently wrapped third movie, they're detouring to a more PITCH BLACKian vibe and scale to get the franchise back on track...before segueing back into the grander RIDDICK mythology. I'd imagine any subsequent projects would be something of a hybrid in scale (i.e bigger than PITCH BLACK but not as gargantuan as CHRONICLES). Just a hunch...as this would be a logical way for all parties to have their cake and eat it too.
More as we know more.
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