— WWE tapes SmackDown, Superstars and NXT tonight in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A non-title match between Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton will main event tonight’s show. Also scheduled for tonight’s tapings…
* The build to the Elimination Chamber continues.
* WWE will tape NXT, with the angle now being that Matt Striker is “being pressured” by the Board of Directors to wrap up the season.
* Dark matches being listed for the show are: Daniel Bryan vs. Big Show and Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett
* As noted earlier, the BOK Center has the following talent, along with their nicknames, listed as appearing tonight: “Gutsy” Daniel Bryan, “Malevolent” Wade Barrett, “Twisted and Tormented” Cody Rhodes, “Man On(sic) The People” Ted DiBiase, “Arrogant Playboy” Drew McIntyre, “Vindictive Leader” Hunico, and “Simply Grand” Natalya.
— Universal Pictures sent out the following press release, announcing that principal photography for Riddick has started. Among the cast are Vin Diesel, Karl Urban and former WWE star Dave Bautista…
RIDDICK KICKS OFF PRINCIPLE FILMING
Long-Awaited Third Chapter in the Saga Starts Production in Montreal
LOS ANGELES, CA UNITED STATES
MONTREAL — Universal Pictures, One Race Films and Radar Pictures announced today that principal photography has begun on the action-driven, sci-fi thriller Riddick. The shoot will take place in Montreal.
The latest chapter of the groundbreaking saga that began with 2000′s hit sci-fi film Pitch Black and 2004′s The Chronicles of Riddick reunites writer/director David Twohy (A Perfect Getaway, The Fugitive) and star Vin Diesel (the Fast and Furious franchise, xXx). Diesel reprises his role as the antihero Riddick, a dangerous, escaped convict wanted by every bounty hunter in the known galaxy.
The infamous Riddick has been left for dead on a sun-scorched planet that appears to be lifeless. Soon, however, he finds himself fighting for survival against alien predators more lethal than any human he’s encountered. The only way off is for Riddick to activate an emergency beacon and alert mercenaries who rapidly descend to the planet in search of their bounty.
The first ship to arrive carries a new breed of merc, more lethal and violent, while the second is captained by a man whose pursuit of Riddick is more personal. With time running out and a storm on the horizon that no one could survive, his hunters won’t leave the planet without Riddick’s head as their trophy.
Riddick also sees the return of Karl Urban (Star Trek, The Bourne Supremacy) as Vaako and introduces to the series Jordi Molla (Bad Boys II, Colombiana) as Santana, the arrogant captain of the mercenary ship; Matt Nable (Killer Elite) as Boss Johns, a man looking for answers; Katee Sackhoff (TV’s Battlestar Galactica) as the Nordic mercenary Dahl; and Bokeem Woodbine (upcoming Total Recall) as bounty hunter Moss. Rounding out the cast are Dave Bautista (The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption), Conrad Pla (Immortals), Raoul Trujillo (Apocalypto), Nolan Funk (TV’s Aliens in America) and two-time Grammy Award-nominated singer Keri Hilson.
The film is produced by Vin Diesel (upcoming Fast & Furious 6, Fast Five) and executive produced by Samantha Vincent (Fast Five, Fast & Furious) for One Race Films. Ted Field (The Last Samurai, Pitch Black) produces for Radar Pictures, while Mike Drake (Dream House, A Nightmare on Elm Street) also executive produces.
Twohy is joined on the film by a talented behind-the-scenes team, including director of photography David Eggby (Pitch Black, Mad Max), production designer Joseph Nemec III (A Perfect Getaway, The Hills Have Eyes, Terminator 2: Judgment Day) and editor Tracy Hall (Limitless, A Perfect Getaway, The Flock).
The Riddick franchise has also produced two popular video games: The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena and The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay. As well, Universal Studios Home Entertainment has released the anime DVD The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury.
Riddick, which is shooting in Montreal, Canada, is a One Race Films production. The film will be released by Universal Pictures in the U.S., and Lionsgate is handling international sales.
