Riddick Adding Dench, Feore - SciFi Wire

Judi Dench is in final talks to star opposite Vin Diesel in Universal Pictures' Chronicles of Riddick, the sequel to David Twohy's SF hit film Pitch Black, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Colm Feore, meanwhile, has come aboard to play the lead villain in the film. Twohy will write and direct for Radar Pictures and One Race Productions. Production begins in Vancouver in April, the trade paper reported.

In the sequel, Riddick (Diesel) is now a hunted man and finds himself in the middle of two opposing forces in a major crusade, the trade paper reported. Feore will play Lord Marshal, a warrior priest who is the leader of a sect that is waging the 10th and perhaps final crusade 500 years in the future. Dench will play Aereon, an ambassador from the Elemental race. She is an ethereal being who helps Riddick unearth his origins, the trade paper reported.

--This could be better than Pitch Black!