Judi Dench, whose full name is Dame Judith Olivia Dench, is a British actress best known for her various stage roles and work in television and film. But did you know how she got her role in The Chronicles of Riddick?
Vin Diesel wanted to work with Dame Judi Dench in The Chronicles of Riddick. The writers had to create a new character for her: Aereon, an Elemental alien ambassador. She described the filming as “tremendous fun,” even though she had no idea what was happening in the plot.
The Making of The Chronicles of Riddick
Vin Diesel takes on this role that he particularly enjoys. The cast includes Karl Urban as Vaako, Thandiwe Newton as his wife, Alexa Davalos as the young Kyra, and Judi Dench as Aereon.
The latter is responsible for Riddick’s return to Helion Prime because she believes he will be at the center of a prophecy that will restore balance to the universe. It wasn’t long after that the Necromongers attacked the planet, prompting the hero to intervene.
Judi Dench’s presence in The Chronicles of Riddick is notable despite being a secondary character. Above all, she piqued the interest of Vin Diesel himself. During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, she revealed this. In London, the actor would have crossed her and done anything to get her to agree to play in the film.
I was doing a play at the Haymarket Theater in London, and I didn’t know it but Vin Diesel, the one and only, was there. He sent me a bouquet of flowers so big they couldn’t fit it up the stairs to my dressing room. They couldn’t even get him through the hallway. Then he asked me if I would like to do the film. And of course, I said yes.
Judi Dench, Actress
(Source: Riddick Fandom)
Who is Aereon?
Aereon appears in The Chronicles of Riddick. She is a member of the Elementals, a race whose religion revolves around the universe’s balance. They seek to maintain this balance, and their ability to use numbers and equations to calculate odds is so precise that it resembles foretelling and prophecy to others.
According to the novelization, a prophecy was given under duress predicting that a son of Furya would stop Lord Marshal Zhylaw, resulting in Furya’s destruction at the hands of Necromonger. Shyla thought it was a clever idea to kill unborn Furyan babies with their umbilical cords. (Source: Riddick Fandom)
Playing Victoria Again
Dench, 82, appeared in the 2004 film but is now promoting Victoria & Abdul, in which she reprises the title role of one of the country’s most famous monarchs.
So I never expected to play her later on but I must say this particular story of Queen Victoria four years after John Brown died seemed to me to be a kind of continuance, because I’d done the homework, and the screenplay I think is wonderful. It tells a great, great story – so that and working with Stephen Frears again, I found an irresistible proposition
Judi Dench, Actress
(Source: Riddick Fandom)
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