We're just a few short weeks away from seeing Vin Diesel return to what is undoubtedly his most iconic role in RIDDICK, but Diesel is already looking ahead to another sci-fi actioner, signing on to both star in and produce SOLIDERS OF THE SUN, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Diesel is teaming up with Arash Amel, the writer of the upcoming Grace Kelly biopic GRACE OF MONACO, to create an original sci-fi action movie franchise. Universal has picked up SOLDIERS OF THE SUN with Diesel also on board to produce with Samantha Vincent via their One Race Films along with veteran producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura.
Soldiers of the Sun is set in a post-apocalyptic future and focuses on a squad of soldiers that searches for a fabled city of gold while on a tour of duty in Mexico liberating it from an alien race known as Orcs.
The hope is to launch another ensemble-type franchise series for Diesel, who is already the ringleader of Universal’s ensemble FAST AND FURIOUS action franchise. Considering this project is described as a sci-fi/action piece, let's just hope his character in SOLIDERS OF THE SUN is far removed from the ultra-badass character of RIDDICK to avoid the inevitable comparisons.
Still, this sounds like it could be a lotta fun. We'll keep you posted on news regarding SOLDIERS OF THE SUN as we hear it.