The Vin Diesel-led 2015 fantasy feature “The Last Witch Hunter” didn’t set the world on fire. Costing $90 million, the movie made just $27.4 million domestically and $147 million worldwide whilst also scoring poor reviews.
Diesel played Kaulder, the warrior responsible for killing the Witch Queen (Julie Engelbrecht) eight centuries ago – but she put an immortality curse on him in the process. Cut to the present day, Kaulder works for witch enforcement group Order of the Axe and Cross when he discovers the Witch Queen is alive and has attacked his friend Dolan (Michael Caine). Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood, Lotte Verbeek, Isaach De Bankole and Joe Gilgun co-starred.
The film has essentially been left forgotten, but now Diesel himself says he’s pushing for a sequel to happen. Out doing promo rounds for “Bloodshot,” he was asked by Collider how he moves forward when a passion project doesn’t pan out as hoped with “The Last Witch Hunter” cited as an example:
“When a Last Witch Hunter comes out and it doesn’t destroy the box office you, under the old thinking, would go, ‘Well, maybe I should focus on something else.[ But nowadays what’s fascinating is that movies find you somehow.
As an artist, the more experienced I get, the more I am appreciating just the fact that my work somehow finds you and that you get to experience it at your own time and at your own pace, and I’m less concerned – and maybe it’s because of accolades.
Maybe it’s because I’m a part of Avengers or I’m a part of Disney, I’m a part of Guardians and I’m a part of Fast and I’ve had so much of that wonderful experience that I think the higher thinking becomes – when people tell me that they love the Witch Hunter, and they want to see Michael Caine and I go into another one, I go, ‘Wow!’.
Lionsgate is coming and saying, ‘We’re putting a writer on for the next one.’ That’s kinda cool! … And this is just recent, by the way. But it’s funny that you mentioned Last Witch Hunter because I’m in a meeting with Lionsgate and they’re actively creating the sequel to The Last Witch Hunter.”
Diesel has had success spearheading smaller franchises between his Marvel & ‘Furious’ commitments including the trio of “Riddick” films and starring in two “XXX” movies. He’ll also have a role in the upcoming “Avatar” sequel.
