Riddick is a 2013 science fiction action film written and directed by David Twohy, based on the Richard B. Riddick character created by Jim and Ken Wheat. It is the third installment in The Chronicles of Riddick series and a sequel to both Pitch Black (2000) and The Chronicles of Riddick (2004). Vin Diesel reprises his role as the eponymous character alongside Jordi Mollà, Matt Nable, Katee Sackhoff, Dave Bautista, Bokeem Woodbine, Raoul Trujillo, and Karl Urban. In the film, notorious serial killer Riddick is kidnapped and left for dead on a deserted planet and uses his instincts to survive. He eventually teams up with mercenaries who come to capture him in order to escape a greater threat. Riddick was released in the United States on September 6, 2013. Critics considered it a return to form for the series, and it was a moderate box office success compared to its predecessor. A fourth film, titled Riddick: Furya, is in development.
Five years after Kyra’s death, Riddick has become uncomfortable in his role as Marshal of the Necromonger fleet. His refusal to swear the oath to the Necromonger faith has caused dissension among his subjects. After the latest assassination attempt, Riddick strikes a deal with Commander Vaako: the location of Furya and a ship to take him there, in exchange for Vaako succeeding him as the next Marshal so he can achieve transcendence. Led by Vaako’s assistant, Krone, Riddick and a group of Necromongers set out for a deserted planet. Realizing that it was not Furya, Riddick kills most of his escorts when they attempt to assassinate him; Krone causes a landslide that buries Riddick alive.
Riddick emerges from the rubble with a broken leg, which he wears in a cast and splint while fending off native predators: vulture-like flying beasts, packs of jackal-like beasts, and giant, venomous scorpion-like Mud Trolls that live in the water. Needing time to heal, Riddick hides in some abandoned ruins. Once healed, Riddick finds a large grassland behind some rocks, but the only path through it is blocked by several mud puddles filled with Mud Trolls.
He begins injecting himself with Mud Troll venom to create an immunity and builds improvised melee weapons, as well as raising and training an orphaned jackal pup. He kills the Mud Trolls blocking his entrance and reaches the grassland. After finding a mercenary station, Riddick notices a series of storms approaching and concludes that they will unleash a dangerous threat. Riddick activates an emergency beacon at the station, broadcasting his identity to mercenary groups in the area.
