Vin Diesel in studio talks for Dame Judi Dench to earn lots more money

25-Feb-2003 • Bond News

The story surrounding the quirky casting of Dame Judi Dench alongside Vin Diesel in "The Chronicles of Riddick" has fired up more studio gossip.

Bond fans may cringe as 007`s current M looks set to star alongside his 2002 box-office adversary "xXx". According to Canada.com, Mr. Diesel, a six-foot-three-inch former bouncer from New York turned film star, was bowled over by Breath of Life, Dame Judi`s latest West End triumph. He is now demanding she appear as his co-star in a proposed trilogy of big-budget science fiction films to be called The Chronicles of Riddick.

Not only that, but he said he wanted to introduce some "class" into the science fiction genre, but was shocked to find out how relatively little classical British actresses are traditionally paid in Hollywood and has gone on the offensive to change that.

While Mr. Diesel will be paid $14 million U.S. and a share of box office receipts for each Riddick movie, he has told Universal, the studio funding the $128-million project, he wants an "exceptional" salary for his proposed co-star. "The dame will not ask for it herself, so I will use my muscle to get it," he told colleagues. Although negotiations will not be finished before the end of February, Hollywood sources believe Dame Judi could earn $7 million a film.

Dame Judi`s representatives remain wary about the prospect. "If she had that kind of money in the bag, I would have gone home to celebrate by now, and I am still here on the phone," said an aide. Yet sources at Universal said they were "listening positively" to Mr. Diesel`s requests.

If the deal is signed, Dame Judi, 68, will play Aeron, an ambassador from an alien race who helps Mr. Diesel`s character Riddick, escape from a dangerous planet.